Crime statistics released by the Metropolitan police have been used to determine which London boroughs have the highest crime rates. The data covers all types of crime recorded from January 2021 to December 2024.
From 2021 across London crime increased. This is possibly due to the pandemic and its associated constraints.
Here is a list of the London boroughs with the highest number of crimes over that period.
Westminster
Theft rates in Westminster are probably high because of its many tourists (Aaron Chown/PA Archive)
Some of the most popular sights in London are located in Westminster: the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Oxford Street, Regent Street, Buckingham Palace and St James’s Palace. Westminster is also home to the highest crime rate in London, with theft being the most common.
Over the period, 178,685 cases out of 304,681 in the borough were theft related. This is followed by 42,874 violence against the person cases and 11,307 drug offences.
The borough is showing no signs of improving – crimes have been increasing non-stop since September 2024. Criminals are thought to be drawn to the area to prey on its many tourists, often well-off residents and the multitude of people enjoying its varied nightlife
The crime rate for the borough is 1.169.7 per 1,000 people.
Camden
Camden has the second highest number of crimes (Getty Images)
A popular destination for tourists, Camden is well known for its markets, fashion, culture and music venues as well as the British Museum and London Zoo. Camden also has one of the highest rates of crime in London, particularly theft, violence against the person and vehicle offences.
Theft was the number one crime, making up 64,000 cases out of the total 144,495 reported crimes in the borough.
The crime rate for Camden is 582.6 per 1,000 people.
Kensington and Chelsea
Theft was the most common crime in Kensington between 2021 and 2024
Kensington and Chelsea is the most populous borough in London, despite being the smallest. And the rate of crime is high, with theft and violence against the person accounting for the top two offences.
The crime rate in Kensington and Chelsea is 536.9 per 1,000 people.
The borough is wealthy making it more attractive to potential criminals.
Islington
Crime rates in Islington began to fall last October (Shutterstock/Joe Dunckley)
Islington is the top fourth most dangerous borough in London, with 38,501 crimes out of the 110,338 reported being theft.
Crime rates began increasing in March 2024 but began to fall from October 2024.
The crime rate is 463.4 per 1,000 people.
Hackney
Hackney had the highest burglary rate in London a year ago (Getty Images)
Hackney is among the top five most crime-ridden boroughs in London.
With 235 recorded burglaries in January 2024 and a crime rate of 449.4 per 1,000 daytime residents, Hackney had the highest burglary rate in London last year.
Hammersmith and Fulham
The most frequent crimes in this borough were sexual and violent offences in 2023 (Hammersmith and Fulham Council)
Hammersmith and Fulham had a crime rate of 445.9 crimes per 1,000 residents, high enough to put the borough in sixth place.
The most frequent crimes in Hammersmith and Fulham were sexual and violent offences, with 6,074 offences reported in 2023. This is seven per cent more than the 5,690 such crimes recorded in 2022.
The least common crime in Hammersmith and Fulham is the possession of a weapon, which accounted for 108 offences in 2023, up seven per cent from the 101 offences in 2022.
Southwark
Southwark had the highest shoplifting rate in London in September 2024 (Ross Lydall)
There are 439 crimes per 1,000 residents in Southwark.
With 490 recorded stealing crimes and a crime rate of 1.5 per 1,000 daytime residents, Southwark had the highest shoplifting rate in London in September 2024.
Residents of Southwark also had a difficult month in June 2022, as the borough recorded 198 robberies, or 0.61 per 1,000 daytime residents, making it the most dangerous borough in London at that time.