London Mayor Sadiq Khan has hit back at what he claimed is “misinformation” about the city as new figures show a fall in violent crime.
According to data released by Mr Khan's office, the murder rate in the UK capital is now lower than that of many other international cities.
Last month, there were 8,749 fewer crimes resulting in injury, a drop of nearly 12 per cent across the city compared to the previous 12 months.
The rate of homicide was down by 17 per cent in the 12-month period to June this year compared with the 12-month period to May 2016, when he came to power. London recently recorded the fewest murders across June, July and August since 2018, with no one under 25 killed.
Overall, homicides in London are at a 10-year low, with the capital's rate lower than those in Paris, Brussels, Berlin, Madrid and all major US cities, said the Mayor's office. The homicide rate is seven times lower than in Los Angeles and four times lower than in New York.
The release of the crime figures comes after US President Donald Trump accused Mr Khan of doing a “terrible job” and claimed that “crime in London is through the roof”, in their long-running war of words.
While not mentioning Mr Trump by name, Mr Khan, who is at the annual conference of the ruling Labour Party, hit back at “politicians here and across the globe talking down London and spreading misinformation about crime and safety in the capital”.
“The evidence is clear, our approach to tackling crime and its complex causes works. It's driving down violence right across the capital,” he said.
Office for National Statistics data, recorded in the 12 months to March this year, shows Londoners are less likely to be victims of violent crime (26.4 offences per 1,000 population) than people across the rest of England and Wales (31.9 offences per 1,000 population).
The Met Police and Mr Khan have both pointed to the work of the Violence Reduction Unit in England and Wales, which was set up in 2019.
Metropolitan Police assistant commissioner Rachel Williams said this is “a clear sign that our approach is making a difference” and “why London is becoming a safer city”.
The mayor’s office also pointed to knife crime falling by 19 per cent, and both robbery and theft from individuals by 13 per cent in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period last year. Robbery generally involves violence to take an item while theft usually means it is snatched.
The leader of the opposition Conservatives in London Susan Hall told The National that Mr Khan is using “cherry-picked figures that do not reflect the reality on the ground”.
She accused him of overseeing “devastating police cuts” which have resulted in a 40 per cent increase in violence against the person, sexual offences up 75 per cent, and theft up 207 per cent in just under the 10 years he has been in power.
“For Khan to try and suggest that everything is rosy and bright amid this crime wave is insulting to the victims who need our support, not to be told that they should be grateful that crime is going down,” said Ms Hall.
Mobile phone thefts have been the focus of public anger in recent years as the Met Police struggled to deal with criminals on bikes whipping devices from the hands of unsuspecting victims in broad daylight.
The force’s own data shows mobile phone thefts are up by 2.4 per cent over the last year, though the rate of increase has fallen from the 42 per cent peak it reached over the year to August last year.
The city has also gained a negative reputation due to 'Rolex Robbers' targeting wealthy areas to steal watches from people's wrists.
Profile of MoneyFellows
Founder: Ahmed Wadi
Launched: 2016
Employees: 76
Financing stage: Series A ($4 million)
Investors: Partech, Sawari Ventures, 500 Startups, Dubai Angel Investors, Phoenician Fund
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EWafeq%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJanuary%202019%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENadim%20Alameddine%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%2C%20UAE%3Cstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EIndustry%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Esoftware%20as%20a%20service%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%243%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERaed%20Ventures%20and%20Wamda%2C%20among%20others%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Mina Cup winners
Under 12 – Minerva Academy
Under 14 – Unam Pumas
Under 16 – Fursan Hispania
Under 18 – Madenat
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
THREE
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Nayla%20Al%20Khaja%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Jefferson%20Hall%2C%20Faten%20Ahmed%2C%20Noura%20Alabed%2C%20Saud%20Alzarooni%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
THE SPECS
Range Rover Sport Autobiography Dynamic
Engine: 5.0-litre supercharged V8
Transmission: six-speed manual
Power: 518bhp
Torque: 625Nm
Speed: 0-100kmh 5.3 seconds
Price: Dh633,435
On sale: now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
RESULTS
Men
1 Marius Kipserem (KEN) 2:04:04
2 Abraham Kiptum (KEN) 2:04:16
3 Dejene Debela Gonfra (ETH) 2:07:06
4 Thomas Rono (KEN) 2:07:12
5 Stanley Biwott (KEN) 2:09:18
Women
1 Ababel Yeshaneh (ETH) 2:20:16
2 Eunice Chumba (BRN) 2:20:54
3 Gelete Burka (ETH) 2:24:07
4 Chaltu Tafa (ETH) 2:25:09
5 Caroline Kilel (KEN) 2:29:14
Company profile
Name: Tratok Portal
Founded: 2017
Based: UAE
Sector: Travel & tourism
Size: 36 employees
Funding: Privately funded
