London is a paradise for nightlife lovers. But how safe is it in such a huge city?
"I'm a native Londoner and I've never had such problems", says a passerby. And another assures us that if you are vigilant enough, you can be completely calm.
However, some right-wing politicians claim otherwise. According to them, London is a place with high crime.
For example, the leader of the right-wing populist party "Reform UK" Nigel Farage says: "I think London is mired in lawlessness. I also think that it is the fears related to crime, and not just taxes, that are among the reasons why people are leaving the city.
American President Donald Trump recently said: "Look at the crime in London".
But is there any truth in the fact that London's image as a safe global city is crumbling?
"London is a safer place than many cities in the US"
On the street in London we meet representatives of "Night Stars" - a safety initiative in which volunteers patrol the city center, helping people get home safely. The volunteers specifically monitor whether drunk women need help.
"We help them to come to their senses, we provide them with water and a safe place. We walk with them and talk. At the same time, we try to establish contact with their relatives or friends," says Emanuela Fadirre, who is part of the team of volunteers who take care of the safety of women at night.
"London is definitely safe if you are with friends. And if there are men in your group, it is even better, because there are all kinds of people outside," a random passerby tells DW. Another adds that she tries not to go home alone. Or at least to be in touch with other people - they exchange short messages and warn each other.
In recent years, the focus of public attention has been mainly on the increasing number of knife attacks. However, official data shows a decline in the overall number of serious violent crimes. The number of murders, for example, has fallen to its lowest level in more than 10 years.
"London is a much safer place than many cities in the US. It is a little-known fact that when it comes to violent crime, London is safer than Paris, Berlin, Madrid and Brussels per capita. So its bad reputation is often unjustified," British expert on organised crime Alastair Gregg told DW.
However, thefts are on the rise. Some supermarkets have even started to install anti-theft devices on goods in the home goods department. And mobile phone thefts have long been part of everyday life: in 2025, the police recorded more than 70,000 such cases. In several large-scale police operations earlier this year, more than 200 people were arrested, and London Mayor Sadiq Khan seems pleased.
"If we want people to feel safe in our city, we simply cannot let perpetrators get away with it. That's why as mayor I have secured record funding for investment in cutting-edge equipment to ensure that there is no place left for these criminals to hide."
London has one of the most densely populated cities with CCTV
The authorities are keen to increase the sense of security among citizens. Thanks to its extensive network of CCTV cameras, London is already one of the most monitored cities in the world. The authorities plan to deploy an additional 13,000 police officers on the streets across the country. But these measures come at a cost: this may come at the expense of other sectors that will be underfunded.
"There have been several large-scale operations against mobile phone thefts, which have proven successful. But what is overlooked is that many of the police officers involved in this operation would be working in other hot spots: for example, on cases related to drug trafficking, knife attacks or other investigations. So this resource is being pulled from other places, "expert Alastair Gregg told DW.
In central London, Emmanuelle Fadier and her team do not only rely on the police. They share their phone numbers with the security staff of buildings and businesses. "I think that compared to other cities, London is doing quite well. And there are so many different initiatives that people have come up with - it's not just us, there are other organizations that are doing everything they can to make this city a safe place for people," says Fadier.
It seems that London, one of the largest cities in the world, is relatively safe. Despite what some politicians say.
Author: Birgit Maas