According to the Office for National Statistics, many crimes recorded against people increased between the years ending June 2015 and March 2025, including violence against the person (40%), possession of offensive weapons (23%), sexual offences (75%) and theft from the person (207%).
Reform UK Assembly Member Alex Wilson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service : “If Sadiq Khan thinks London is getting more safe, he needs to get out more.
“The idea he points to incremental changes in just a few categories is ridiculous.”
“The long-term trends under Sadiq Khan are clear: knife crime is up, theft is up, shoplifting is up, fare evasion is up, phone thefts at the highest ever seen, and just 2% of burglaries in outer London result in a charge or summons.
The analysis of the figures comes soon after the Metropolitan Police laid out proposals to close almost half of police station front counters in London – a move critics said would have a “devastating” impact on Londoners.
The Met’s commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, has said despite funding increases, the forces faces a £260m shortfall and will have to reduce its workforce.
However, he said the force was becoming “more capable” and was focused on “driving down crime on issues that matter most to Londoners”.
The Mayor of London has pledged a policing blitz on London’s 20 most blighted town centres for shoplifting, robbery, knife crime and antisocial behaviour this summer.