Londoners have now lived under Sadiq Khan’s mayoralty for nine years, and according to some critics, the city has gone from one of the safest global metropolises to what they describe as a haven for gangsterism and low-level crime. A recent Evening Standard article paints a stark picture: violent crime is said to have surged 30% during Khan’s tenure, pickpocketing and phone snatching reportedly jumped 38% in the last year, and Tube offences rose by 56% from 2022 to 2023. A rape offence is now reported every hour, and nearly half of London women have faced threat or assault in the past five years. Even parks have turned risky – crimes in Royal Parks have nearly doubled in just two years.
One author summed it up bluntly: “You’d better have the reflexes necessary to walk the streets in Khan’s London,” especially in central districts after dark.
However, independent data suggests a more complex picture. The Crime Survey for England and Wales found that for the year ending September 2023, only 14.9% of Londoners experienced crime, compared to 15.7% nationally. In other words, London is statistically safer than many parts of the country. Murder rates have also declined from a peak of 153 homicides in 2019 to 110 in 2023, making the city safer than several UK regions – and far safer than major US cities. Knife crime, though still a concern, remains lower than it was before 2016, despite a recent 20% increase from 2022 to 2023.
There’s tension between how people feel and what the numbers show. Part of this stems from the rise in everyday crimes like phone theft and public transport offences, which are more visible and personally disruptive. These incidents shape public perception more than homicide rates or statistical trends. Another factor is that similar or sharper increases in crime have occurred elsewhere in the UK, but London is often singled out.
So yes, certain crimes have risen under Khan, and public anxiety is understandable. But London is not falling apart. The city is still safer than many other places in England and remains one of the more secure major cities globally. While caution and awareness are always wise, fear should be based on facts – not just headlines.
As for who could take the reins from Khan, recent mayoral elections have highlighted several challengers. In 2024, Khan was re-elected after defeating Conservative candidate Susan Hall, who campaigned on a tough-on-crime platform and promised more visible policing. Others who have stepped forward or shown interest in London’s future include Liberal Democrat Rob Blackie and Green Party candidate Zoë Garbett. Even outside politics, some suggest that a future mayor might come from business, civil society, or law enforcement. Whoever takes the role next will inherit both the city’s complex crime challenges and the intense public scrutiny that comes with trying to solve them.