London’s reputation as a safe global city has landed squarely in the international spotlight, as a heated war of words between President Donald Trump and Mayor Sadiq Khan reignited following the release of new crime statistics. The debate, which has played out on both sides of the Atlantic, pits claims of spiraling lawlessness against official data showing a significant drop in violent offenses across the UK capital.
It all began with President Trump’s remarks at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 24, 2025. In a speech that touched on immigration and Western values, Trump accused London of wanting to "go to sharia law," and described Europe as being "in serious trouble" because of what he called an "invasion" by illegal immigrants. He said, "They've been invaded by a force of illegal aliens like nobody's ever seen before. Illegal aliens are pouring into Europe... and nobody's doing anything to change it, to get them out. It's not sustainable. And because they choose to be politically correct, they're doing just absolutely nothing about it." Trump didn’t hold back on his criticism of London’s leadership either, calling Mayor Khan "a terrible, terrible mayor" and claiming, "It's been so changed, so changed. Now they want to go to sharia law, but you're in a different country. You can't do that."
Trump’s dire warnings didn’t stop there. He argued that both immigration and what he called "suicidal energy ideas" could spell the end for Western Europe if not addressed immediately. Drawing a parallel to the U.S. border under the Biden administration, he said millions had crossed illegally and that "the U.N. is supposed to stop invasions, not create them and not finance them."
Mayor Sadiq Khan, never one to shy away from a confrontation with Trump, fired back in interviews with the BBC and other outlets. He accused Trump of racism, sexism, misogyny, and Islamophobia, saying, "I think President Trump has shown he is racist, he is sexist, he is misogynistic, and he is Islamophobic." Khan also dismissed Trump’s personal fixation on him, remarking, "People are wondering what it is about this Muslim mayor who leads a liberal, multicultural, progressive and successful city, that means I appear to be living rent-free inside Donald Trump's head."
But the political feud over London’s safety isn’t just rhetorical. It’s rooted in a fierce debate over crime statistics and public perception. On September 29, 2025, City Hall released new data showing that violent crimes resulting in injury had fallen by nearly 12% over the previous year, with almost 9,000 fewer people hurt across the capital. Every one of London’s 32 boroughs saw a reduction. Havering, in east London, led the way with a 16.3% drop, followed closely by Enfield in the north at 16.1%. Even the boroughs with the smallest decreases—Greenwich at 4.3% and Kensington and Chelsea at 4.6%—still saw improvements.
Khan was quick to trumpet the figures as proof that his approach is working. "The evidence is clear: our approach to tackling crime, and its complex causes, works. It’s driving down violence right across the capital," he declared. He credited London’s police for "the incredible work of our brave police officers—who are arresting more than 1,000 additional suspects each month, and solving crimes that involve victims at double the rate they were a year ago." He also highlighted the city’s violence reduction unit, which has delivered over 450,000 positive opportunities and activities to divert young people away from violence and exploitation.
Khan acknowledged that "one death and one crime will always be one too many," but insisted that the city was heading in the right direction. He said, "I’m working with partners, and the government, to build on this progress and enhance our collective efforts to drive down every single crime, wherever it happens in our great capital city, to deliver a safer London for everyone."
The data also showed that the homicide rate in London is at a 10-year low, down 17% compared to the period leading up to May 2016. According to the mayor’s office, London’s homicide rate is now lower than in Paris, Brussels, Berlin, Madrid, and all major U.S. cities. Office for National Statistics records for the 12 months to March 2025 indicate that Londoners are less likely to be victims of violent crime (26.4 offenses per 1,000 people) than residents elsewhere in England and Wales (31.9 per 1,000).
Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Rachel Williams reinforced the message, stating, "Violence with injury is down in every single borough—a clear sign that our approach is making a difference. Homicide is now at its lowest level in a decade, violent crime resulting in injury has fallen, and firearms discharges are less than half what they were seven years ago." Williams emphasized, "We’re targeting the most dangerous individuals, disrupting criminal networks, and investing in prevention to protect those most at risk. That’s why fewer people are being hurt, fewer lives are being lost, and London is becoming a safer city." She added, "We won’t stop until every Londoner feels safe, wherever they live, work, or go to school. We’re committed to listening, learning, and improving, so that our progress is not just sustained but accelerated."
Not everyone is convinced by the statistics, however. The Conservative opposition, led by shadow home secretary Chris Philp, accused Khan of cherry-picking data and ignoring the broader picture. Philp argued, "Sadiq Khan seems to be the only person who thinks there is no crime problem in London. He cherry-picks his numbers and hopes Londoners will forget the reality that knife crime is up 86% on his watch, stop and search collapsed by more than half, and London now accounts for nearly half of all knife-point robberies in England." Philp continued, "Under this Labour mayor, criminals know the odds are stacked in their favour. Only one in 20 robberies is solved, fewer offenders are being jailed, and more than a thousand police officers have been cut from the Metropolitan Police, with Sir Mark Rowley warning of further losses this year. Londoners don’t feel safer because London isn’t safer. Labour are weak on crime, soft on criminals, and too scared to confront the reality on our streets. It’s time for the Labour government and Labour mayor to wake up and get a grip, or get out of the way."
So who’s right—those who point to falling crime rates, or those who say the numbers don’t tell the whole story? As BBC London’s home affairs correspondent Sonja Jessup noted, "How do you measure how safe London is? Which offences should you focus on? Is it the perception of Londoners—do they feel protected in their community, or have they changed their behaviour due to fear?" The answer, it seems, is as much about how people feel as what the numbers say. Viral videos, social media commentary, and personal experience all shape the narrative—sometimes as powerfully as official statistics.
As City Hall braces for further cuts to police funding and the political debate rages on, one thing is certain: the battle over London’s safety is far from over. But for now, the data points to a city that, by several measures, is becoming safer—even if the politics remain as contentious as ever.
