Crime in London falls over the year to August 2026
Police recorded 73,842 crimes in London in August 2026, down from 76,855 a year earlier. Across the 12 months to August 2026, crime fell 3% compared with the previous 12 months.
By Rafael Cardoso · · police.uk figures for August 2026
Police recorded 73,842 crimes in London in August 2026, compared with 76,855 in August 2025, a fall of 4%. Single months can vary considerably, so the 12-month figures give a clearer picture. In the 12 months to August 2026, police recorded 892,851 crimes, down from 925,168 in the 12 months to August 2025, a fall of 3%. August 2026 crime amounted to 8.1 per 1,000 residents.
Some offence types rose over the two 12-month periods. Possession of weapons rose 32%, from 5,343 to 7,052. Violence and sexual offences rose 7%, from 265,182 to 283,039. Shoplifting rose 5%, from 90,642 to 94,862.
Other offence types fell over the same periods. Criminal damage and arson fell 35%, from 55,296 to 35,911. Theft from the person fell 25%, from 97,043 to 73,085. Robbery fell 6%, from 32,953 to 31,000.
Across England and Wales, crime in August 2026 was unchanged compared with August 2025, while the 12-month figure fell 1%.
The figures
| Crimes in August 2026 | 73,842 (down 4% on August 2025, 76,855) |
|---|---|
| Per 1,000 residents | 8.1 in the month, 9,089,736 residents |
| September 2025 to August 2026 | 892,851 crimes, down 3% on the 12 months before (925,168) |
| Rose most | Possession of weapons (knives and other weapons) up 32% (7,052), Violence and sexual offences (assaults, harassment, sexual offences) up 7% (283,039), Shoplifting up 5% (94,862) |
| Fell most | Criminal damage and arson (vandalism) down 35% (35,911), Theft from the person (pickpocketing, bag snatching) down 25% (73,085), Robbery down 6% (31,000) |
| England and Wales | down 1% over the same 12 months |
Crimes recorded by the police and published on police.uk, counted where they happened and summed for London (the 32 boroughs and the City of London). Figures for a single month move a lot; the 12-month change is the steadier guide. This report is written automatically from these figures, and every number in it is checked against them before it is published. How the figures are counted.
