London's crime rate is consistently one of the most searched topics in UK property research. The city's reputation for crime is built on averages that conceal enormous variation. Westminster (W1) and Tower Hamlets (E1) are not the same city as Northwood (HA6) or Bromley (BR1), even though all four sit within Greater London.
Using January 2026 data from the official UK Police API, here is how crime breaks down across London's postcode districts.
London Crime at a Glance (January 2026)
London recorded tens of thousands of crimes across its 33 boroughs in January 2026. The data below covers postcode districts for which full January 2026 data is available through CrimeSafe.
| Postcode | Area | Total crimes (Jan 2026) | Most common crime | Safety level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HA6 | Northwood (Hillingdon) | 53 | Violence & sexual offences | Low |
| UB8 | Hillingdon | 330 | Shoplifting | Medium |
| SE18 | Eltham | 806 | Violence & sexual offences | Higher |
| SE13 | Lewisham | 858 | Violence & sexual offences | Higher |
Source: data.police.uk, January 2026. Safety level is a relative comparison within Greater London.
The Safest Parts of London
When it comes to raw crime counts, outer London boroughs consistently record fewer crimes than inner London. The London Borough of Hillingdon in West London stands out. Northwood (HA6) recorded just 53 crimes in January 2026, placing it among the lowest-crime postcode districts in the entire capital.
This is partly a function of density and demographics. Northwood is a predominantly residential suburb with low commercial activity, high owner-occupancy rates, and good Police coverage. The neighbouring district Hillingdon (UB8), which includes Uxbridge town centre, recorded significantly more crime (330) because it has a much higher daytime population and more commercial premises.
South East London's Eltham (SE18) sits in the lower-middle range for London as a whole, with 806 crimes recorded in January. This is below the crime count for many inner London districts and reflects Eltham's mostly residential character.
Crime Hotspots in the Capital
The highest-crime areas in London are consistently found in inner-city zones with dense residential populations, major transport hubs, and high levels of footfall. Areas like Poplar and the surrounding parts of Tower Hamlets (E1), Tottenham (N17), and Croydon (CR0) regularly feature in the higher-crime brackets of London's postcode table.
Some of this reflects reporting patterns as much as actual crime. Areas with high Police presence (such as those around major stations and shopping centres) see more crimes logged because officers are actively present. In contrast, some lower-crime areas may have lower reporting rates.
Violence and Sexual Offences: London's Most Common Crime Category
Across most London postcode districts, "violence and sexual offences" is the largest crime category. This category is much broader than it sounds (see our guide to what crime statistics actually mean) and includes everything from pushing and shoving to serious assaults. In most districts, the majority of incidents in this category do not result in injury.
That said, areas where violence makes up a disproportionately large share of total crime (above 35%) do warrant closer attention. Lewisham (SE13), for example, shows violence as the dominant category alongside relatively high vehicle crime.
The Safest London Boroughs to Live In
Based on the available data, the boroughs with the most consistently low crime across their postcode districts are:
- London Borough of Hillingdon. Particularly the HA and UB postcodes in the west of the borough. HA6 consistently ranks among London's lowest-crime postcodes.
- London Borough of Bromley. Bromley (BR1) is one of south-east London's quieter suburbs. The borough as a whole has lower crime rates than most inner-London equivalents.
- Outer South East London. Areas like Eltham (SE18) offer a reasonable crime profile for London while remaining well-connected to central London.
How to Check Your London Postcode
The postcode district data gives you a broad picture, but crime is hyperlocal. Within any district, the differences between individual streets can be significant. A full CrimeSafe report gives you ward-level data, breaking down crime to the level of your specific neighbourhood rather than just your borough.