Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has launched an ambitious new Police and Crime Plan aimed at revitalising neighbourhood policing and making London safer over the next four years.
The 2025–2029 plan focuses on putting more police officers into local communities, reinforcing a commitment to tackling both crime and its root causes. Developed in consultation with over 4,000 Londoners and key partners—including the Met Police, local councils, justice agencies, and community organisations—the plan lays out a collaborative vision for safer neighbourhoods across the capital.
Key focus areas
Boosting Neighbourhood Policing: The plan aligns with the Government’s Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee to introduce 13,000 new officers and support roles nationwide. City Hall will work with the Government to ensure London sees increased police presence on streets and in town centres.
Building on Crime Reduction Progress: Compared to the period before the last plan, London has seen notable declines in key crime areas:
- Violence with injury: ↓11%
- Domestic homicide: ↓28%
- Non-domestic homicide: ↓8%
- Teen homicide: ↓43%
- Gun crime (lethal barrel discharges): ↓25%
- Hospital admissions for youth stabbings: ↓13%
ONS data confirms that London's rate of violent crime is now lower than the national average. In 2024, the city recorded the lowest number of teen homicides since 2012 and the fewest under-25 homicides since 2003.
Four core priorities
- Reducing violence and criminal exploitation
- Building safer, more confident communities
- Supporting reform within the Met Police
- Improving the criminal justice system and support for victims
Backed by record City Hall investment
Despite continued pressures from 14 years of government austerity, City Hall is investing a record £1.16 billion in policing this year alone. The Mayor has directly funded 1,300 extra officers and is supporting the Met’s “New Met for London” strategy to prioritise local, visible policing.
Sadiq Khan emphasised the importance of partnership: “Nothing is more important to me than keeping Londoners safe and I'm determined to do all I can to tackle violence and crime in our city. My new Police and Crime Plan is about putting communities first and over the next four years we will work with the Government and the Met to improve visible neighbourhood policing and strengthen partnership working to deal with the violence, crime and anti-social behaviour issues that matter to Londoners.
“This plan is about tackling the issues that matter most for our city and it has been created in consultation with thousands of Londoners, partners and local organisations. I want to thank everyone who took the time to give their views – and all of those who continue to work day-in, day-out to make our city safer.
“My new plan will build on crime reductions already achieved in the capital where we have seen fewer young people being injured with knives and the number of teenage homicides in London in 2024 being at its lowest total since 2012. But clearly there is still much more work to do. At City Hall we are fully focused on that, and I will continue to do everything in my power to make London a safer city for all.”
Tackling the causes of violence
The Mayor’s Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) will continue its work in early intervention and prevention, supporting over 400,000 youth-focused activities. It will also help implement the Government’s Young Futures Prevention Partnerships to protect at-risk youth.
Targeting key crime drivers
A particular focus will be placed on reducing mobile phone robberies, which have contributed to rising street crime. The Met will step up enforcement, while City Hall works with phone manufacturers and tech firms to make devices harder to steal and easier to track.
Renewed action on violence against women and girls
The Mayor has committed to updating London’s strategy to tackle Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), supported by a £233 million investment. The plan includes education, support for survivors, and measures to hold perpetrators accountable.
Continued police reform and victim support
Police reform remains central to the Mayor’s agenda. With the Met now out of special measures, Sadiq Khan says work will continue to build trust, improve standards, and make the force more representative of London’s communities.
The plan also reaffirms a strong focus on victims. Through MOPAC, City Hall will invest in high-quality support services, while London’s Independent Victims’ Commissioner, Claire Waxman OBE, continues to advocate for improved services at every stage of the justice process.
Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Kaya Comer-Schwartz, said: “It has been so valuable to hear from so many Londoners, partner organisations and community groups as we’ve developed this plan who contribute daily to keeping London safe. I’m grateful to everyone who has helped us to shape the strategy we publish today so that we can continue delivering for Londoners.
“After years of chronic underfunding by the previous Government and huge cuts to policing, the Mayor and I are determined to drive this plan forward and working with partners is at the heart of my approach to build on the progress that has already been made to reduce serious violence in the capital.
“Strong partnerships make communities safer, and that’s why this plan focuses so much on strengthening joint working between police, Government, local authorities, justice agencies and key partner organisations like TfL and the NHS. I look forward to working with all of our partners to make London a safer city for all.”
London's Independent Victims' Commissioner, Claire Waxman OBE, said: “I'm glad to see a focus within this new Police and Crime Plan on investing in high-quality services to support victims of crime. It's critical victims and bereaved families remain at the heart of the Mayor’s work at City Hall.
“Our Criminal Justice System is in crisis and in need of serious reform following years of underfunding by the previous government. That's why, in my role, I'm determined to continue standing up for victims' rights, ensuring that their voices are heard, and work closely with the Government to lobby for adequate funding and improved policies to support victims.
“I look forward to continuing to collaborate with MOPAC to better understand the specific points within the system where victims are being failed. Underpinned by MOPAC research, my London Rape Reviews and Stalking Review have respectively helped to shape national policy and I am keen to build on their successes. Through this work, I hope to effect changes that will improve victims’ experiences and keep them at the heart of all decision and policy making.”
Sir Mark Rowley, Commissioner of the Met, said: “Nearly two years ago we launched our New Met for London Plan which set us on the path to strengthening trust, raising standards and reducing crime in the capital. Today’s Police and Crime plan from the Mayor complements this work and will help ensure that we keep putting communities first and delivering on the things that people care about most such as neighbourhood policing, tackling perpetrators of violence against women and girls and reducing knife-crime"
“The wider partnership work set out by the Mayor is vital support to our officers’ tireless efforts to keep our neighbourhoods safe. We remain ambitious about what we can collectively achieve if the upcoming Spending Review gives policing and the wider criminal justice system as a whole the backing that it needs.”
Siwan Hayward, TfL’s Director of Security, Policing and Enforcement, said: “The safety and security of our customers and staff is our top priority. We are committed to working alongside the Mayor, police and other partners to ensure that everyone travelling in London can do so safely. We welcome this new plan which will see visible local policing in communities supporting the transport network across the capital. It is vital we continue to work closely with our partners to ensure that our transport network remains a welcoming environment to work and travel.” Photo by Arriva436, Wikimedia commons.