'London is very safe', says Met chief after four men stabbed in Covent Garden
Metropolitan Police Chief Sir Mark Rowley assure Nick Ferrari that statistics still point to violent crime falling across the city, despite a stabbing attack in the tourist hub.
The Metropolitan Police chief has told LBC that London is “very safe” despite Wednesday's stabbing attack on a busy central London street.
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Speaking with Nick Ferrari at Breakfast, Sir Mark Rowley discussed the state of crime in London, stressing that statistics point to violent crime and theft falling across the capital.
A woman who appeared to be suffering a mental health incident stabbed four random passersby in Covent Garden on Wednesday with what is believed to be a pair of scissors. All four victims were taken to hospital and are reported to have non-life threatening injuries.
“London is very safe,” said Sir Mark in response to Ferrari’s questions about safety in the city following the stabbing.
“You say that, but then I see incidents like [this],” responded Ferrari.”
To which Sir Mark said: “Last year we reported the lowest homicide rate per capita that London’s ever had.”
‘Even with a shrinking organisation, the Met Police are doing a fantastic job.’@NickFerrariLBC quizzes Met commissioner Sir Mark Rowley on how safe it really is in London. pic.twitter.com/hO8AnCziAt
— LBC (@LBC) August 6, 2026
Sir Mark went on to cite statistics that show knife crime and injury rates falling, and the fact that people are less likely to get injured in London than in other cities.
He added that there are half as many phone snatching incidents in Westminster than just a year ago.
Neighbourhood crime figures released by City Hall in July found that neighborhood offences such as theft and vehicle offences have fallen by an average of 14 percent.
These figures were released in part as an attempt to tackle disinformation about London crime levels.
London has been painted by some online figures in recent years as a city full of stabbings and phone thefts, but official statistics show the opposite.
Mayor Sadiq Khan set up a homicide reduction plan in 2019, and seven years later, according to statistics, homicides have fallen to the lowest recorded level since 1997, with 97 murders recorded in 2025.
“There are some politicians and commentators who continue to denigrate London and talk our great city down,” said Mayor Khan. “But the facts are showing a very different picture.”
Sir Mark said in July that the drop in crime rates is thanks to a combined effort and acquisition of new facial recognition cameras, drones, e-bikes, and strategies to identify suspects.
Mayor Khan has also pointed to early intervention, diversionary activities, and investments in youth clubs and after-school activities, as influential factors in lowering the crime rate, especially among young people.
As part of the release of new neighbourhood crime data, City Hall stated: “With more than five million extra visitors coming to London for the peak tourism season, schools breaking up and long summer days, the Met and Mayor of London are determined to work with partners to do everything possible to ensure everyone out and about in London feels safe and is safe. ”
Wednesday’s stabbing incident occurred in the packed tourist area of Covent Garden. No motive has been released, and police believe it was an isolated incident.
Sir Mark went on to tell Nick Ferrari that “even in a shrinking organisation, the men and women of the Met are doing a fantastic, fantastic, job.”