Story by Joe Acklam.

The Metropolitan Police have revealed that homicide figures in London have fallen in the past year to the lowest rate since 2014. 

Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley announced that there had been 109 homicides during 2022, down from 132 in 2021, the 109 killings included nine via shooting and 69 fatal stabbings, the joint lowest figure since 2016, according to Home Office Counting Rules. 

The number of teenagers who were killed also more than halved in the space of a year, falling from 30 to 14, there was also 32% drop in domestic homicides at 17, the lowest figure since 2019. 

Rowley said: "It is vital that members of the public feel safe on the streets of London. Every robbery has a significant impact on the victim. 

"Our teams are doing fantastic work in Ilford, and across the capital to target opportunistic robbers who fuel violence." 

"Each and every homicide is devastating – these are victims, not just statistics. They all have families, friends and loved ones that were left behind when their lives were tragically cut short 

"Although the number of homicides fell last year, we are not complacent. We will continue to use every measure available to keep Londoners safe and bring offenders to justice." 

Rowley made this announcement during a visit to Box Up Crime, a boxing gym in Ilford, East London, with Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, who said that making all Londoners feel safer was of paramount importance to him. 

Khan said: "Tackling violence and making London safer for everyone is my top priority and I'm more determined than ever in 2023 to build on the progress made in reducing knife and gun crime, burglary and teenage homicides, which have all fallen since 2016, bucking the national trend. 

"But the level of violence remains too high and that's why it is so important that the Met Commissioner is taking action to ensure officers are in the right place at the right time to keep our communities safe and drive down robberies and other crimes, day and night. 

"We know we cannot arrest our way out of violence and that's why my Violence Reduction Unit is supporting young Londoners, intervening at critical stages in their lives and providing them with positive opportunities, support and mentors – particularly during this cost-of-living crisis, so they can succeed and thrive."