Southwark recorded more crimes than any other south-east London borough in September, according to Metropolitan Police figures.
The borough saw 3,725 offences reported during the month. Theft was the most common offence with 1,606 incidents, followed by violence against the person with 837 reports. There were also 281 vehicle offences, 224 burglaries, 159 robberies, 165 arson and criminal damage offences, 174 public order offences, and 129 drug offences. Together, theft and violence against the person accounted for more than half of all offences recorded in the borough.
Across south-east London — which includes Bromley, Bexley, Greenwich, Lewisham and Southwark — a total of 12,142 offences were logged in September, up 1.5 per cent compared with August.
Lewisham second, Greenwich third
Lewisham had the second-highest crime total, with 2,669 offences. Violence against the person and theft were again the most frequently recorded crimes, with 926 and 664 reports respectively, followed by 233 vehicle offences and 197 public order offences.
Greenwich ranked third, with 2,465 offences reported during the month: 786 incidents of violence against the person, 580 thefts, 230 vehicle crimes, 176 public order offences, 173 arson and criminal damage offences, and 154 burglaries.
Bromley and Bexley
Bromley, London’s largest borough by area, recorded 1,958 offences — considerably fewer than its inner-London neighbours. That included 549 cases of violence against the person, 472 thefts, 220 vehicle offences, 146 arson and criminal damage offences, 190 public order offences, and 122 burglaries.
Bexley recorded the lowest number of reported offences in south-east London, with 1,325 crimes: 467 reports of violence against the person, 297 thefts, 98 public order offences, and 120 vehicle offences. Overall, crime levels in Bexley remained significantly lower than the sub-regional average.
A consistent pattern
Since the start of this year, the overall pattern has remained largely unchanged, with Southwark recording the highest number of reported offences in south-east London every month, followed by Bexley recording the lowest. Across the boroughs, theft and violence against the person have consistently been the two most commonly recorded crime types, accounting for a significant proportion of offences.
Read more of our London crime coverage: the Pitsea Street attempted robbery and the Dollis Hill stabbing charge.
