The map also shows London’s ‘safest’ boroughs
12:43, 01 May 2026Updated 12:58, 01 May 2026
Westminster has a distorted crime rate due to the high number of tourists in the area(Image: VV Shots via Getty Images)
London’s most dangerous – as well as safest – areas have been revealed through the latest crime statistics. Recent Home Office data shows that recorded crime has continued to decline across England and Wales, with non-fraud offences falling by 2 per cent in 2025 compared to the previous year.
This includes an 11 per cent reduction in burglary, an 8 per cent decline in theft, and a 6 per cent decrease in homicide. However, certain crime categories increased, particularly sexual offences (up 5 per cent), weapons possession (up 6 per cent), and drug offences (up 18 per cent).
The statistics also highlight that certain parts of the country present considerably greater risks to residents than others. Crime rates – determined by dividing the total number of offences by population size – are widely regarded as the most equitable method of comparing crime across areas with vastly different populations.
Camden has the worst crime rate in London outside of Westminster(Image: 400tmax via Getty Images)
The data reveals that Camden is London’s most crime-affected borough. During the past year, police documented 38,954 non-fraud crimes in Camden. This equates to a crime rate of 180 offences per 1,000 residents.
Despite a 9 per cent reduction in crime within Camden over the last year, this figure significantly exceeded rates elsewhere in London and throughout England and Wales.
Kensington and Chelsea recorded the second highest rate of 150 crimes per 1,000 inhabitants, despite a 6 per cent fall. Meanwhile, Islington in North London registered the highest rate beyond Central London (134 per 1,000 residents), with Southwark in South London following (122).
The ranking of the most dangerous locations excludes Westminster, where a comparatively small resident population combined with vast numbers of tourists leads to a distorted crime rate of 380 offences per 1,000 residents, more than double that of any other part of the country.
In contrast, the ‘safest’ borough to live in across London is Richmond upon Thames, boasting a modest crime rate of just 58 crimes per 1,000 residents. It is closely followed by Harrow (59 per 1,000 residents), and Sutton (60).
You can examine the crime rate and compare it with your local area using our interactive map above.
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