Southwark recorded the highest number of criminal offences in south-east London during August, according to Metropolitan Police figures. The borough logged 3,784 crimes, while Bexley had the lowest total with 1,435 offences.
The data, covering Bromley, Bexley, Greenwich, Lewisham, and Southwark, shows a total of 12,505 offences were reported across the sub-region in August. This represented a 6.6 per cent decrease compared to July.
Southwark leads with theft and violence offences
In Southwark, theft was the most common offence with 1,839 incidents, followed by violence against the person with 850 reports. The borough also recorded 226 vehicle offences, 208 burglaries, 169 robberies, 171 arson and criminal damage offences, 169 public order offences, and 178 drug offences.
Together, theft and violence against the person accounted for more than half of all offences recorded in the borough, mirroring a pattern seen across the other south-east London boroughs.
Lewisham and Greenwich follow in rankings
Lewisham had the second-highest crime total with 2,714 offences in August. Violence against the person and theft were again the most frequently recorded crimes, with 872 and 619 reports, respectively. The borough also saw 248 vehicle offences and 199 public order offences.
Greenwich ranked third with 2,525 offences, including 825 incidents of violence against the person, 614 theft offences, and 271 vehicle crimes. There were also 155 public order offences, 169 arson and criminal damage offences, and 143 burglaries.
Bromley and Bexley record lower totals
Bromley, despite being London's largest borough by area, recorded 2,047 offences in August, considerably fewer than its inner London neighbours. This included 611 cases of violence against the person, 457 thefts, 267 vehicle offences, 149 arson and criminal damage offences, 189 public order offences, and 90 burglaries.
Bexley recorded the lowest number of reported offences in south-east London with 1,435 crimes. Police dealt with 489 reports of violence against the person, 308 thefts, 107 public order offences, and 177 vehicle offences. Overall, crime levels in Bexley remained significantly lower than the sub-regional average.
Stable pattern since start of year
Since the start of this year, the overall pattern has remained largely unchanged, with Southwark recording the highest number of reported offences in south-east London every month, followed by Bexley recording the lowest. Across the boroughs, theft and violence against the person have consistently been the two most commonly recorded crime types, accounting for a significant proportion of offences.
