The murder rate in London has dropped to its lowest in over a decade, thanks to the public health approach implemented by local councils, the police and the Mayor of London.
Labour Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan visited the Damilola Taylor Centre in Southwark to announce the figures, visiting the centre alongside Sir Mark Rowley.
Increased ‘diversion’ efforts by London’s youth workers has helped drive the trend, preventing young people from being drawn into violent crime. This has been implemented alongside a ‘smarter’ approach to homicide by the Met.
In 2025, the Metropolitan police recorded 97 murders in London, down from 109 in 2024 and 153 in 2019.
The Damilola Tailor Centre in Peckham is a brilliant example of the role youth centres can play in preventing violent crime. Working with Southwark Council’s Violence Reduction Unit, the Centre supports disadvantaged young people and provides opportunities that keep them safe and inspired.
Similarly, Southwark’s Labour-run council has helped partner with and fund organisations such as MyEndz, which work with local young people and their families who are at risk of being drawn into violent crime.
Cllr Natasha Ennin, Southwark Labour’s spokesperson for Community Safety & Neighbourhoods, said: “Reducing the homicide rate to its lowest levels in over a decade did not happen overnight. It is only through the dedication of our local youth workers, with support from the police and the Labour council and Mayor, that we are bucking the trend seen in cities across the world and reducing violent crime.
We will continue to work with, support and scale up youth services across our borough and drive down violent crime for years to come.”
Making the announcement, Sadiq Khan said: “The evidence shows that violent crime rates are proportionately lower in London than in any other UK city.
“The evidence tells a different story from what the politicians such as Donald Trump, Reform and the Conservatives would have you believe. We are liberal and diverse and also successful.”