Statement from the Met Police.

This is the result of efforts of Met officers and staff, who are arresting an additional 1,000 offenders each month, driving innovation through technologies such as facial recognition, and delivering a targeted crackdown on the most dangerous gangs, organised criminals, and predatory men who prey on women and children.

London’s approach has also been bolstered by the Mayor of London’s Violence Reduction Unit (VRU), which is tackling the causes of crime through prevention and early intervention.

New figures released today confirm there were 97 homicides in 2025, an 11% reduction on 2024 (109). This represents the lowest total since 2014, with London’s population having risen by more than half a million since then.

In the same period, violent incidents resulting in injury fell by a fifth, while firearms discharges are less than half what they were seven years ago. This milestone comes despite London’s population growing significantly over the past decade, making the capital safer than ever.

The Met’s work to tackle homicide has also delivered exceptional justice outcomes. In 2025, 95% of homicide investigations resulted in a positive outcome, and London’s homicide rate now stands at 1.1 per 100,000 people. This makes the homicide rate lower than any other UK city and below many comparable global cities, including New York (2.8), Berlin (3.2), Milan (1.6) and Toronto (1.6). It is also significantly lower than rates seen in major US cities such as Los Angeles (5.6), Houston (10.5), Chicago (11.7) and Philadelphia (12.3).

Progress has been particularly strong in reducing serious violence involving young people. Teenage homicide has fallen to its joint lowest level in almost three decades – matching the record set in 2012. In 2025, there were just eight teenage victims, a 73% reduction since 2021, with teenagers accounting for only 8.3% of all homicides in London.

Last year, London also recorded the fewest number of homicides of victims aged under-25s this century. A key part of this progress has been the Mayor’s VRU which has delivered more than 550,000 targeted interventions to prevent young people being drawn into gangs and violence. The VRU works in schools to tackle exclusions and absenteeism, funds after‑school diversionary activities, and places youth workers in police custody and A&E departments – preventing 80% of under‑18s from reoffending within 12 months and helping more than three‑quarters of young people reduce their risk of harm. Together with the Met’s policing activity, this twin enforcement‑and‑prevention approach is delivering real results.

The number of homicides of young people in London when the VRU was set up in 2019 was three times higher than it is today, and hospital admissions of young people for knife assault fell by 43 per cent in the same period.

The Met’s strategy has been uncompromising, a mix of relentless policing and innovation with the use of technology, such as Live Facial Recognition. Officers are arresting an extra 1,000 criminals every month and have made over 21,231 disruptions against serious and organised crime groups and individuals, while also taking thousands of guns and knives from London’s streets.

Every part of the Met has been involved in this success. Cutting-edge technology and intelligence-led policing have been at the heart of the Met’s commitment to driving down violent crime. Officers have prevented homicides and serious attacks by zeroing in on the most dangerous criminals – those linked to firearms or with violent convictions – using advanced tactics such as surveillance, device monitoring, and precision manhunts.

The flagship V100 programme has revolutionised the way the Met protects women and girls. This groundbreaking initiative uses data and intelligence to identify predatory men posing the greatest risk, then relentlessly pursues them for any crimes committed to ensure they face the longest possible prison sentences. It’s a proactive approach that stops harm before it happens.

The Met has also struck at the root of gang violence by dismantling thousands of drug and county lines operations – making more than 1600 arrests in the past year alone. These criminal networks don’t just deal drugs – they exploit the vulnerable, fuel violence, and create fear across London’s communities. Dismantling them has been pivotal in restoring safety and confidence on our streets.

Together with the Met’s policing activity, this twin enforcement‑and‑prevention approach is delivering real results.