Overview of Crime in London in 2024

In 2024, London experienced a notable shift in its crime landscape, with certain categories showing significant increases:

Total Crime increased by 18%, highlighting a trend of rising incidents across the metropolis. The crime rate per 1,000 people in London stood at 105.8, which was slightly higher than the previous year’s 100.9 [1]. This rise could be attributed to multiple factors, including economic pressures and social changes post-pandemic.

Violent Crime saw an uptick, with 252,545 violent crime offences recorded, marking a rise from the previous year. This translates to a violent crime rate of 27.9 per 100,000 people, up from 21.8 [2].

Knife Crime incidents increased by 2.7%, with a notable rise in knife crimes with injury by 4%. London recorded 15,016 knife-related crimes, which was a significant concern for public safety [3].

Sexual Offences reported a 51% increase, reflecting both higher reporting rates and potentially a genuine rise in occurrences [4].

Robbery rates surged by 9.9%, with a particularly sharp rise in business robberies by 82.5% [5]. Personal robberies and theft from the person saw a notable rise. Mobile phone thefts were particularly prevalent, accounting for 33% of all robberies and 69% of thefts in London [6].

 

National Comparison

Nationally, England and Wales saw:

A crime rate of 89.7 crimes per 1,000 people for 2023/24, indicating that London’s crime rate was higher than the national average [7].

Homicide numbers slightly decreased to 562 in the year ending June 2024, compared to 578 the previous year, showing a national trend towards stabilization or reduction in this crime category [8].

Knife crime nationally increased by 4%, with London contributing significantly to this figure, although its growth rate was less than some other regions [9].

Enforcement and Industry Countermeasures

Economic Crime: The National Crime Agency’s efforts, including Operation Henhouse, led to over 400 arrests and £19 million in seizures, targeting fraud and money laundering [10].

Serious and Organised Crime: The NCA’s budget increased by 21% to £860 million, focusing on disrupting and dismantling organised crime groups, with a particular emphasis on cybercrime and drug trafficking [11].

 

The increase in crime has prompted various industry responses:

Increased Surveillance: There’s been a push for more widespread use of CCTV, with AI-enhanced systems for real-time monitoring and predictive policing.

Community Policing: Efforts have been made to increase police visibility and community engagement to deter crime.

Technological Investments: Significant investments in cybersecurity and digital forensics to tackle cybercrimes which have not been fully captured in traditional crime statistics.

Public Awareness Campaigns: Focusing on crime prevention, especially around knife crime and personal safety.

Case Study: Novus Altair’s Role with Novus Guard in the context of Security Guarding Industry

The private security sector in London responded robustly to these challenges. There was a notable push towards enhancing the capabilities of security guards, with increased emphasis on training in conflict management, physical intervention, and integration with law enforcement. The industry leveraged its presence to act as both a deterrent and a first line of defense, particularly in high-risk areas like construction sites, public events, and commercial spaces. The strategic deployment of security personnel in public spaces has been studied to assess its effectiveness in deterring crime, with findings suggesting a positive impact when patrols are targeted and visible [12].

Novus Altair, a prominent player in the UK’s security guarding industry, was instrumental in this landscape. Established in 2010, we have grown to be recognised for our reliable security services, particularly in London. Novus Altair’s approach included:

Manned Security Guarding: We offered SIA-licensed security guards who were not only a visual deterrent but also actively engaged in preventing unauthorised access, criminal damage, theft, and other crimes. Our guards were trained to handle various scenarios, ensuring safety and security in diverse environments like construction sites, charity events, and public sector facilities.

Event and Public Space Security: With London hosting numerous public events, Novus Altair’s role was critical in ensuring these gatherings remained safe. Their services extended from managing crowd control to providing close protection for high-profile attendees, thereby contributing to the safety of both participants and the public.

Corporate and Retail Security: Novus Altair also catered to corporate clients, providing bespoke security solutions that included not only physical security but also strategic planning to mitigate risks associated with crime in business environments.

Collaboration with Authorities: We worked closely with local police forces, enhancing the effectiveness of local crime prevention strategies through coordinated efforts and information sharing, particularly during public events and in areas prone to crime.

 

Novus Guard: Being a leading player in security, we have contributed through our flagship product, that covers enhancements such as:  

AI-Driven Threat Detection: Novus Guard uses advanced AI to predict and detect criminal activities before they escalate. In 2024, updates included enhanced machine learning algorithms that improved the system’s ability to identify patterns associated with violent and property crimes.

Real-Time Response: The platform’s real-time threat response feature was pivotal in scenarios where immediate action could prevent crimes from occurring. For instance, Novus Guard’s integration with local law enforcement systems enabled quicker response times to reported or detected incidents.

Community Safety Programs: Novus Altair facilitated several community programs where Novus Guard was deployed in high-crime areas of London. These deployments aimed at:

• • Providing local businesses with advanced security solutions to combat the rise in business robberies.
  • Offering free security audits to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which led to a reduction in crime in participating neighbourhoods by providing actionable security enhancements.

Data Analytics for Law Enforcement: Novus Altair’s technology was crucial in analyzing crime data, offering insights that helped in strategic policing. This included mapping crime hotspots and predicting crime trends, thereby allowing for better resource allocation.

Public Safety Apps: Novus Guard’s features were extended to its business and public safety mobile applications: Novus Guard Pro and Novus Guard Solo, providing businesses and citizens with tools to report suspicious activities discreetly, which was particularly effective in reducing knife crime incidents by enhancing community vigilance.

Conclusion

The year 2024 was a year of challenges for London in terms of crime rates, but also one where technology and innovation, particularly through efforts like those of Novus Altair with Novus Guard, played a significant role in countering these trends. Through proactive measures, training, and collaboration with law enforcement, the industry managed to contribute significantly to safety and security. The comparative analysis with national figures shows that while London faces unique challenges, the broader context of crime in England and Wales suggests a mixed bag of trends where some crimes are decreasing nationally, even as they rise locally. This underscores the importance of tailored, technology-driven approaches to crime prevention and management.