Crime and Safety in Islington
Last updated: 07 Jun 2026
Islington is among the top 10 most dangerous boroughs in London. The overall crime rate in Islington in 2026 is 91 crimes per 1,000 people. This compares poorly to London's overall crime rate, coming in 10% higher than the London rate of 82 per 1,000 daytime population. For England, Wales, and Northern Ireland as a whole, Islington is among the top 20 most dangerous cities, and the 515th most dangerous location out of all towns, cities, and villages.
In March 2026, Islington had the worst crime rate in London for anti-social behaviour, with 792 crimes reported and a crime rate of 2.3 per 1,000 daytime population. April 2026 was also a bad month for Islington residents, when it was again London's most dangerous area for anti-social behaviour, recording 832 crimes at a rate of 2.4 per 1,000 daytime population.
The most common crimes in Islington are violence and sexual offences, with 8,421 offences during 2026, giving a crime rate of 24. This is 2.4% higher than 2025's figure of 8,226 offences and a difference of 0.64 from 2025's crime rate of 24. Islington's least common crimes are possession of weapons, with 232 offences recorded in 2026, an increase of 16% from 2025's figure of 200 crimes.
Islington 2026 Crime Scorecard
Top 10 Most Dangerous
Boroughs, London
14% higher, regional crime rate
London
26% higher, national crime rate
England, Wales & NI
Local Crime in Context
As of April 2026, the crime rate in Islington is 14% higher than London and 26% higher than the England, Wales & Northern Ireland overall figure.
Islington Crime Rate Over Time
| Islington | |
| London | |
| England, Wales & NI |
Islington Crime Map
Incidents mapped in Islington represent the time frame between January 2016 and April 2026. Each point on the map represents an area where crimes have been recorded locally.
Use Crime Map
Hover over a point to see a breakdown of crime types recorded at that location. You can also filter by individual crime types, or use a combinations of offences to visualise the data you need.
See How Islington Compares
You can compare Islington's crime statistics against any other town, village, or city from across the country. Search for a location's name below to see how they stack up.
Introduction to Islington's crime statistics
This crime profile provides a detailed view of crime and safety around Islington up to April 2026, the most recent data release available. The crime figures and statistics have been calculated across each of Islington's 6,458 postcodes using three area sizes for comparison:
- Within a Five-Minute Walk
- Within a Ten-Minute Walk
- Within a Fifteen-Minute Walk
Individual crime risk scores and index figures are for the 12-month period ending April 2026 unless otherwise stated.
CrimeRate Insights
Looking into a specific address in Islington? CrimeRate Insights reports convert raw numbers into practical insight for any location, from single addresses and postcodes, up to major towns and cities.
Crime rates don’t happen by themselves; they follow people and patterns. Where crowds gather - near pubs and late-night venues, around the station, by supermarkets and forecourts - incidents naturally concentrate.
That doesn’t mean an area is "bad"; it usually means footfall is higher.
Your report explores these factors in a calm, non-judgemental way, putting the numbers in context and helping you spot what’s typical for places like this.
Crime Risk Scores
Islington • 12 Months Ending April 2026
The typical five-minute walk within Islington has a crime risk score of 647. This is based on analysis of 6,458 nearby areas within Islington, with "most" referring to roughly two thirds of the nearby locations.
Crime risk scores are on a scale of 1 to 1,000 and consider the severity of the crimes involved, as determined by sentencing guidelines. A score of 1 represents the lowest risk, and 1,000 the highest risk. This approach ensures that - unlike overall crime rate figures - bicycle theft is not given the same importance in Islington's risk scores as, for example, robbery, or violence & sexual offences.
Within a five-minute walk of the typical location in Islington, crime risk scores are typically around 647, while in London they are average 534.
Areas within a ten-minute walk typically see crime risk scores of 719 (613 for London), and scores within a fifteen-minute walk are most often around 774 (London 663).
Trends in Crime Risk
Islington
Calculated via Seasonal and Trend decomposition using Loess, the Seasonality Adjusted line represents the original data with seasonality subtracted, and the Trend line has been plotted unadjusted. Overall trend direction has been identified using the Mann-Kendall trend test, and rate calculated from the slope of the best-fit line identified from linear regression.
The 10-year trend indicates a decrease of 16% in Islington's crime risk score. This is potentially a strong signal of how the crime risk is evolving. Cross-referencing with major cultural events and Covid's impact during this time is advised.
Looking at the previous five years, the trend in Islington's crime risk score is up by 12%. While potentially a good indicator of the overall risk trend, analysis may offer further insight when combined with the checks mentioned above.
Over the last year, Islington's crime risk score has shown an upward trend of approximately 1.3%, indicating that the risk profile is going up. This is an extremely short time period for crime trend analysis, and caution should be exercised when interpreting this figure.
Crime Rates and Indexes
Islington
The CrimeRate Index shows how crime rates compare against the national average.
1.0 equals the average
2.0 is double
3.0 triple
0.5 is half and
0.25 a quarter.
Highest Crime Rates
Islington • 12 Months Ending April 2026
Excluding other crime and other theft because their geographic location is often not relevant, anti-social behaviour as its definition is too wide, and bicycle theft for its specificity.
Theft From the Person offences have a crime rate of 10 reports per 1,000 people in Islington, which is 6.57 times the national average. This figure is calculated from 3,546 crime reports logged by Metropolitan Police during the 12-month period ending April 2026.
For the same period, Metropolitan Police recorded 1,288 reports of Robbery in Islington, resulting in a crime rate of 3.72 reports per 1,000, and a CrimeRate Index of 3.15.
The crime rate for Drugs is 2.07 times the national average at 6.40 reports per 1,000. This is from 2,228 crime reports reported to Metropolitan Police.
Most Significant 3-Year Increases in Crime Types
Islington
Excluding other crime and other theft, anti-social behaviour, and bicycle theft, and calculated with the same STL method described in Trends in Crime Risk, using CrimeRate Index figures to identify crime types that are trending above or below the national average, and the analysis timeframe limited to the last three years.
Public Order offences are trending upwards, and have a CrimeRate Index of 1.13 for the month of April 2026.
Three years ago, the monthly Public Order CrimeRate Index was 0.77 times the national average, and the current trend indicates an increase of 47% over this timeframe.
Shoplifting offences are trending upwards, and have a CrimeRate Index of 1.98 for the month of April 2026.
Three years ago, the monthly Shoplifting CrimeRate Index was 1.06 times the national average, and the current trend indicates an increase of 87% over this timeframe.
Violence and Sexual Offences are trending upwards, and have a CrimeRate Index of 0.82 for the month of April 2026.
Three years ago, the monthly Violence and Sexual Offences CrimeRate Index was 0.68 times the national average, and the current trend indicates an increase of 21% over this timeframe.
Most Significant 3-Year Decreases in Crime Types
Islington
Calculated with the same methodology as the largest increases section above.
Robbery offences are trending downwards, and have a CrimeRate Index of 3.10 for the month of April 2026.
Three years ago, the monthly Robbery CrimeRate Index was 3.44 times the national average, and the current trend indicates a decrease of 10% over this timeframe.
Crime Type Breakdown & Heat Map
Islington • 12 Months Ending April 2026
Size and colour reflect the CrimeRate Index figures for each type of crime.
Islington | London | Metropolitan Police | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crime Type | Count | Rate | Index | Count | Rate | Index | Count | Rate | Index |
| Anti-Social Behaviour | 9,213 | 26.49 | 1.87 | 235,985 | 21.68 | 1.53 | 236,187 | 21.58 | 1.53 |
| Bicycle Theft | 803 | 2.31 | 3.16 | 13,695 | 1.26 | 1.73 | 13,744 | 1.26 | 1.73 |
| Burglary | 1,639 | 4.71 | 1.50 | 47,359 | 4.34 | 1.39 | 47,451 | 4.33 | 1.38 |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | 1,583 | 4.55 | 0.72 | 54,098 | 4.99 | 0.79 | 54,220 | 4.97 | 0.79 |
| Drugs | 2,228 | 6.40 | 2.07 | 53,167 | 4.87 | 1.58 | 53,280 | 4.85 | 1.57 |
| Other Crime | 337 | 0.97 | 0.52 | 13,008 | 1.19 | 0.64 | 13,028 | 1.19 | 0.64 |
| Other Theft | 3,856 | 11.08 | 1.95 | 97,452 | 8.97 | 1.58 | 97,779 | 8.95 | 1.57 |
| Possession of Weapons | 232 | 0.66 | 0.78 | 6,443 | 0.60 | 0.71 | 6,461 | 0.60 | 0.71 |
| Public Order | 2,306 | 6.65 | 1.15 | 60,049 | 5.52 | 0.95 | 60,156 | 5.49 | 0.95 |
| Robbery | 1,288 | 3.72 | 3.15 | 30,804 | 2.83 | 2.40 | 30,857 | 2.83 | 2.40 |
| Shoplifting | 3,506 | 10.10 | 1.42 | 87,976 | 8.09 | 1.13 | 88,269 | 8.08 | 1.13 |
| Theft From the Person | 3,546 | 10.19 | 6.57 | 77,160 | 7.11 | 4.59 | 77,344 | 7.08 | 4.57 |
| Vehicle Crime | 1,846 | 5.32 | 1.24 | 81,755 | 7.50 | 1.74 | 81,900 | 7.50 | 1.74 |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | 8,421 | 24.23 | 0.80 | 273,434 | 25.12 | 0.83 | 273,897 | 25.04 | 0.82 |
Download | |||||||||
Total Crime by Year
Islington | London | Metropolitan Police | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Count | Rate | Index | Count | Rate | Index | Count | Rate | Index |
| 2026 | 31,591 | 90.89 | 1.26 | 896,400 | 82.39 | 1.14 | 898,386 | 82.17 | 1.14 |
| 2025 | 31,826 | 91.89 | 1.24 | 896,961 | 83.23 | 1.12 | 898,787 | 82.94 | 1.12 |
| 2024 | 29,276 | 85.21 | 1.13 | 900,986 | 84.38 | 1.12 | 902,681 | 84.12 | 1.12 |
| 2023 | 27,705 | 81.23 | 1.03 | 835,471 | 78.98 | 1.00 | 837,244 | 78.79 | 1.00 |
| 2022 | 25,917 | 76.49 | 1.00 | 795,646 | 75.77 | 0.99 | 797,303 | 75.56 | 0.98 |
| 2021 | 23,035 | 67.57 | 0.99 | 727,983 | 69.09 | 1.01 | 729,401 | 68.83 | 1.00 |
| 2020 | 27,609 | 81.27 | 1.10 | 819,467 | 77.66 | 1.05 | 821,362 | 77.41 | 1.04 |
| 2019 | 29,139 | 86.13 | 1.13 | 849,310 | 80.70 | 1.06 | 851,175 | 80.59 | 1.06 |
| 2018 | 31,525 | 92.24 | 1.30 | 810,063 | 77.08 | 1.08 | 811,738 | 76.91 | 1.08 |
| 2017 | 28,816 | 83.82 | 1.31 | 758,160 | 72.41 | 1.13 | 759,755 | 72.22 | 1.13 |
| 2016 | 8,814 | 25.62 | 1.34 | 234,565 | 22.42 | 1.18 | 235,003 | 22.39 | 1.17 |
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Crime in Islington's Neighbourhoods
12 Months Ending Apr 2026
| Neighbourhood | Total Crimes | Crime Rate | Rate Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archway | 2,888 | 142.33 | 57% more dangerous |
| Barnsbury | 1,737 | 96.00 | 6% more dangerous |
| Canonbury | 1,302 | 108.49 | 19% more dangerous |
| Clerkenwell | 1,090 | 39.16 | 57% safer |
| East Canonbury | 679 | 86.33 | 5% safer |
| Farringdon | 746 | 45.96 | 49% safer |
| Finsbury | 1,148 | 88.95 | 2.1% safer |
| Finsbury Park | 3,980 | 140.65 | 55% more dangerous |
| Highbury | 2,075 | 73.31 | 19% safer |
| Holloway | 3,002 | 123.29 | 36% more dangerous |
| Islington | 4,042 | 124.36 | 37% more dangerous |
| Lower Holloway | 2,052 | 100.41 | 10% more dangerous |
| Mildmay | 905 | 93.86 | 3.3% more dangerous |
| Pentonville | 369 | 58.10 | 36% safer |
| St Luke's | 3,214 | 51.13 | 44% safer |
| Upper Holloway | 1,279 | 89.38 | 1.7% safer |
Islington Compared to Other London Boroughs
12 Months Ending Apr 2026
| Borough | Total Crimes | Crime Rate | Rate Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westminster | 75,198 | 125.02 | 38% more dangerous |
| Kensington and Chelsea | 21,836 | 119.60 | 32% more dangerous |
| Lambeth | 37,842 | 103.24 | 14% more dangerous |
| Newham | 40,892 | 100.22 | 10% more dangerous |
| Camden | 39,579 | 97.84 | 8% more dangerous |
| Hackney | 31,315 | 97.19 | 7% more dangerous |
| Haringey | 28,040 | 95.10 | 4.6% more dangerous |
| Lewisham | 29,090 | 92.69 | 2.0% more dangerous |
| Islington | 31,591 | 90.89 | - |
| Greenwich | 27,583 | 87.11 | 4.2% safer |
| Brent | 32,653 | 86.45 | 4.9% safer |
| Enfield | 29,378 | 85.76 | 6% safer |
| Hammersmith and Fulham | 20,786 | 84.88 | 7% safer |
Comparing Islington to the UK's Major Cities
12 Months Ending Apr 2026
| City Name | Crime Rate | Rate Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Cardiff | 79.55 | 12% safer |
| Newcastle upon Tyne | 82.69 | 9% safer |
| Sheffield | 84.09 | 7% safer |
| Islington | 90.89 | - |
| Leicester | 97.87 | 8% more dangerous |
| Bristol | 104.64 | 15% more dangerous |
| Birmingham | 105.05 | 16% more dangerous |
| Liverpool | 106.48 | 17% more dangerous |
| Leeds | 107.10 | 18% more dangerous |
| Nottingham | 107.74 | 19% more dangerous |
| Westminster | 125.00 | 38% more dangerous |
CrimeRate Pro
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You can find out more, or get a CrimeRate Insights report that includes further analysis.
Offences In and Around Islington's Parks & Leisure Spaces
Limited to spaces in Islington that are named and have had crimes recorded within their boundaries in the 12 months to Apr 2026.
| Name | ASB | Drugs | Public Order | Robbery | VSO | All Others |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Culpeper Community Garden | 9 | 1 | 9 | - | 19 | 13 |
| Handyside Gardens | 30 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 36 | 210 |
| Highbury Fields | 19 | 15 | 33 | 20 | 40 | 78 |
| St Paul's Shrubbery | 4 | - | 1 | - | 1 | 5 |
| Spa Fields | 27 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 31 | 21 |
| Newington Green | 9 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 32 | 64 |
| Owens Fields | 41 | 14 | 11 | 4 | 29 | 140 |
| The Green | 2 | - | 1 | - | 7 | 11 |
| Pollard Close Allotments | 67 | 3 | 8 | 9 | 47 | 93 |
| Three Corners Adventure Playground | 24 | - | 5 | 3 | 10 | 10 |
| Edward Square | 31 | 15 | 4 | 1 | 19 | 32 |
| Penn Road Gardens | 17 | - | - | - | 2 | 10 |
| Franklin Building | 40 | 4 | 15 | 5 | 27 | 88 |
| Caledonian Park | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Culpeper Park | 11 | 4 | 22 | 7 | 42 | 57 |
| Whittington Park | 86 | 7 | 22 | 11 | 66 | 155 |
| Royal Northern Gardens | 37 | 5 | 12 | 12 | 24 | 68 |
| Caledonian Park | 57 | 11 | 4 | 5 | 46 | 69 |
| Market Road Garden | 14 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 32 | 54 |
| Bingfield Park | 18 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 25 | 43 |
| Thornhill Square Community Gardens | 49 | 2 | 17 | 11 | 31 | 75 |
| Thornhill Road Garden | 12 | - | 2 | - | 6 | 28 |
| Gillespie Park | 16 | 9 | 4 | 9 | 36 | 47 |
| St Paul's South Open Space | 13 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 29 | 29 |
| Gibson Square Gardens | 63 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 12 | 29 |
| St Mary's Church Gardens | 49 | 12 | 26 | 6 | 68 | 186 |
| Islington Green Gardens | 33 | 9 | 20 | 19 | 42 | 340 |
| Rosemary Gardens | 39 | 14 | 17 | 12 | 82 | 175 |
| Duncan Terrace Gardens | 57 | 16 | 16 | 6 | 43 | 156 |
| St James Garden | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 21 |
| St John's Gardens | 37 | 9 | 10 | 13 | 31 | 213 |
| Foxham Gardens | 30 | - | 3 | - | 6 | 11 |
| Sunnyside Gardens | 26 | 7 | - | 2 | 16 | 18 |
| Elthorne Park | 55 | 13 | 12 | 8 | 35 | 61 |
| Zoffany Park | 4 | 1 | - | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Landseer Gardens | 77 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 40 | 68 |
| Montpelier Gardens | 16 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 17 |
| Paradise Park | 47 | 7 | 12 | 10 | 35 | 54 |
| St Mary Magdalene Garden | 37 | 17 | 10 | 5 | 34 | 56 |
| Arundel Square Gardens | 37 | 8 | 10 | 1 | 40 | 45 |
| Barnard Park | 39 | 3 | 13 | 9 | 18 | 41 |
| Joseph Grimaldi Park | 16 | - | 4 | - | 8 | 10 |
| Compton Park | 131 | 10 | 32 | 16 | 75 | 246 |
| Nightingale Park | 61 | 5 | 10 | 2 | 60 | 79 |
| Pleasant Place Garden | 26 | 9 | 1 | 7 | 39 | 43 |
| Spa Green Garden | 12 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 30 | 133 |
| Finsbury Leisure Centre | 30 | 1 | 7 | 9 | 41 | 76 |
| Golden Lane Leisure Centre | 4 | 47 | 8 | 2 | 21 | 126 |
| Quaker Garden | 41 | 17 | 2 | 3 | 47 | 37 |
| Bunhill Fields Burial Ground | 37 | 2 | 5 | 18 | 40 | 345 |
| Michael Sobell Sports Centre | 86 | 10 | 15 | 2 | 36 | 61 |
| Spa Fields | 37 | 10 | 14 | 5 | 47 | 213 |
| Priory Church Garden | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 40 |
| Cornwallis Park | 39 | 11 | 9 | - | 31 | 50 |
| Olden Community Garden | 15 | - | - | 2 | 6 | 18 |
| Arvon Road Community Garden | 11 | - | - | 2 | 1 | 9 |
| Scholefield Road Open Space | 15 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 16 | 21 |
Recent Crimes in Islington
The 20 most recent crime reports in Islington.
| Date | Crime Type | Location | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 2026 | Anti-social behaviour | On or near City Road | |
| April 2026 | Anti-social behaviour | On or near Fonthill Road | |
| April 2026 | Anti-social behaviour | On or near Bowman'S Place | |
| April 2026 | Anti-social behaviour | On or near Hillmarton Road | |
| April 2026 | Anti-social behaviour | On or near City Road | |
| April 2026 | Anti-social behaviour | On or near Gallia Road | |
| April 2026 | Burglary | On or near Clere Place | |
| April 2026 | Burglary | On or near Bowman'S Place | |
| April 2026 | Burglary | On or near Prah Road | |
| April 2026 | Burglary | On or near Charles Street | |
| April 2026 | Burglary | On or near Charles Street | |
| April 2026 | Other theft | On or near Queen Margaret'S Grove | |
| April 2026 | Public order | On or near Kinloch Street | |
| April 2026 | Robbery | On or near Leconfield Road | |
| April 2026 | Theft from the person | On or near City Road | |
| April 2026 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Prah Road | |
| April 2026 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Queen Margaret'S Grove | |
| April 2026 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Greenhill Rents | |
| April 2026 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Queen Margaret'S Grove | |
| April 2026 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near St Thomas'S Road |
Methodology & Data Sources
Islington Crime Report
Data Sources & Processing
Every month, CrimeRate processes crime reports from data.police.uk, the UK's official provider of open crime report data. Each crime report includes anonymised coordinates, most often "snapped" to the middle of the nearest street, or to the nearest major landmark. The reports also include the month and year the crime was reported, as well as the type of crime.
Data releases on data.police.uk happen once a month, with a two-month delay. This means that, for example, crimes reported in Islington during July 2026 will typically become available in September 2026. The latest release is for Apr 2026 and was released in Jun 2026. To provide current and historical crime statistics, CrimeRate processed 61,669,232 crime reports for the latest release.
Islington Data Points
For Islington, CrimeRate uses the geographic boundaries provided by The Office for National Statistics in the December 2023 release of their Parishes and Non Civil Parished Areas dataset, using the PARNCP23CD column value E43000209.
Due to the 2021 Census being conducted during a UK-wide Coronavirus lockdown, the daytime population figures released so far cannot be relied on for purposes such as comparing crime rates. Instead, CrimeRate uses Islington's daytime - or "workday" - population of 266,076 from the ONS 2011 Census for calculations throughout the site.
All geographic boundaries use the full resolution - extent of the realm versions where provided to avoid missing crime reports near coastlines and rivers - the banks of the Thames in particular - that would otherwise not be included when using the clipped to the coastline datasets.
Calculating Crime Rates
CrimeRate locates the UK region, county, and town/city/village locality for each crime report, and calculates the crime rate by taking the sum of all crime reports, dividing it by the locality's daytime / "workday" population, and multiplying the result by 1,000 to get the crime rate per 1,000.
Crime Risk Score Calculations
CrimeRate calculates crime counts for local, nearby, and wider areas for every postcode in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The postcodes locations are deduplicated by a process that ensures distinct points are approximately 50 metres apart. This process removes the bias that would otherwise come from counting the same crimes several times in heavily populated areas.
Using a custom algorithm developed in-house, CrimeRate applies a crime severity weighting to each area's crime counts, based on the type of crime reported. This increases or decreases the crime count, or zeroes it out entirely, depending on the crime type. A separate crime severity rate is then calculated, standardised, and scaled to fit the crime risk score range of 1 to 1,000, with 1 being the lowest score, and 1,000 the highest.
Crime risk scores undergo further analysis per town, city, and village plus other areas including police forces and neighbourhoods. CrimeRate uses percentiles to work out the most common range of crime risk scores in each locality. This includes identifying the high and low bounds where approximately 68% of scores fall, and finding the median (50th percentile) for easy reference.
The crime types with a weight of zero are: Anti-Social Behaviour; Bicycle Theft; Other Crime; Other Theft; and Shoplifting. The highest weights to are assigned to Violence & Sexual Offences, and the lowest to Vehicle Crime.
Frequently Asked Questions
Crime in Islington