New south-west London crime figures show Lambeth recorded more offences than any other borough in the sub-region in September, with 3,489 crimes logged during the month, according to Metropolitan Police data.
Across south-west London — covering Croydon, Sutton, Merton, Lambeth, Kingston-upon-Thames, Richmond-upon-Thames and Wandsworth — a total of 12,897 offences were recorded in September, down 2 per cent on the number logged in August.
The data covers all recorded crimes, from theft and violence against the person to vehicle crime, arson, public order offences, robbery and burglary. It provides a detailed snapshot of offending across one of the capital’s largest sub-regions, home to more than 1.5 million people.
The figures, published by the Metropolitan Police, reveal a clear ranking of the seven boroughs, with Lambeth well ahead of its neighbours and Kingston-upon-Thames recording the lowest total.
Lambeth tops the table
Lambeth recorded the highest number of offences in September, with 3,489 crimes reported. Theft was the most common offence in the borough, with 1,358 incidents, followed by violence against the person with 826 reports.
In Lambeth, theft alone accounted for almost 40 per cent of all recorded offences. Vehicle crime saw 233 offences recorded. There were also 176 cases of arson and criminal damage, 207 public order offences, 164 robberies and 175 burglaries.
Croydon second, Wandsworth third
Croydon had the second-highest crime total, with 2,925 offences in September. As in Lambeth, violence against the person and theft were the most frequently recorded crimes, with 931 and 724 reports respectively.
Vehicle offences were the next most common in Croydon at 269, followed by 185 cases of arson and criminal damage. The borough’s total was more than 500 offences below Lambeth’s, but over 600 above third-placed Wandsworth.
Wandsworth ranked third, with 2,312 offences reported during the month. The borough recorded 692 incidents of violence against the person and 635 theft offences, alongside 243 vehicle crimes.
Arson and criminal damage, burglaries and public order offences accounted for 130, 139 and 157 cases respectively in Wandsworth.
Merton, Sutton, Richmond and Kingston
Merton was next in the rankings, with 1,125 offences reported in September. This included 371 cases of violence against the person, 260 thefts and 107 vehicle offences. Police also recorded 86 public order offences and 88 incidents of arson and criminal damage.
In Sutton, 1,110 offences were recorded — just 15 fewer than Merton. The most common crimes were violence against the person, with 414 reports, and theft, with 216. The two boroughs were the closest in the entire table.
Richmond and Kingston-upon-Thames recorded the lowest crime levels in south-west London during September. Richmond saw 974 offences, including 275 cases of violence against the person and 228 thefts. Kingston recorded 962 offences, making it the borough with the lowest total.
A mixed picture across the boroughs
The gap between the highest and lowest boroughs is substantial. Lambeth’s 3,489 offences were more than three and a half times Kingston’s 962. Croydon, in second place, recorded more than twice the total of fourth-placed Merton.
The figures highlight the very different challenges facing inner and outer London boroughs, even within the same part of the capital. Busy town centres with nightlife and transport hubs tend to see higher volumes of theft and violence, while quieter residential boroughs record fewer offences overall.
South-west London crime: the full ranking
- Lambeth – 3,489 offences
- Croydon – 2,925 offences
- Wandsworth – 2,312 offences
- Merton – 1,125 offences
- Sutton – 1,110 offences
- Richmond-upon-Thames – 974 offences
- Kingston-upon-Thames – 962 offences
What the figures show
Theft and violence against the person dominate the offence counts in every borough, together accounting for well over half of all recorded crimes. In Croydon, violence against the person was the single biggest category with 931 reports, while in Lambeth theft led with 1,358.
Vehicle crime is the next most significant category across the sub-region, followed by arson and criminal damage, public order offences, robberies and burglaries. The 2 per cent month-on-month fall in total offences will offer some reassurance, though the figures also underline how concentrated offending remains in the area’s busiest town centres.
Report a crime
- Call 101 to report a crime that is not an emergency, or report online via the Metropolitan Police website.
- Always dial 999 in an emergency or if a crime is taking place.
- Contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 with information about crime.
- Enter your postcode at police.uk to see recorded crimes in your neighbourhood.
