Westminster has been found to be London’s most dangerous borough, with criminal offences in the area reaching nearly 100,000 in the past year, according to a new survey.
Data collated by London criminal defence solicitors Lawtons analysed the total crimes per 1,000 people in each borough for the past three years, with a crime index score awarded based on the levels of criminal activity.
Westminster scored 97 out of 100 and topped the list in every offence, with theft in the area accounting for over 20% of total theft in London, 5% higher than the average crime rate in England.
Nick Titchener, criminal defence solicitor at London law firm Lawtons Solicitors said: ”It’s no surprise that the city centre of Westminster is the prime spot for crime.
”The area attracts a large number of tourists and visitors each month making it a lucrative target for criminals, particularly theft and violence.
”Although the figures naturally reflect national trends which are rising due to less crime recorded during the pandemic, it is still a concern that all types of offences are on the rise.
”Crime and public safety will be one of the major issues at the next general election and is a top priority for councils to keep communities safe.
”The biggest piece of advice is to be aware of your surroundings. Keep your valuables close and if you’re heading out late at night, It’s a good idea to plan how you will get home by checking the time of your last train, bus or tube back to your accommodation.”
Westminster was also ranked first for the London borough with the highest rate of sexual offences, with 1,600 reports recorded in the area.
In April, Westminster was awarded £289,600 in April as part of the Night Safety programme, launched to decrease the rates of sexual harassment in the borough.
Residents reported that the campaign had little effect, with women continuing to feel unsafe at night.
Crime in London has increased at a rate of 15% year on year, with reports of theft, robbery and sexual offences at an all-time high.
Tower Hamlets was ranked second behind Westminster, with a crime index score of 60, and theft was also found to be the most frequently recorded crime in the borough with 10,970 recorded cases in 2023, barely surpassing violence against a person (10,702).
According to the data, drug offences are the only crime to have fallen across the capital, with cases decreasing by 17% in two years, though concern is still merited.
Haringey was the borough most affected by drug crime, witnessing a 15% increase in offences over the past two years, with Havering not far behind at 10%.
Westminster Council has declined to comment.
Featured Image Credit: Mike Pennington under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0
