Lewisham is among the top 20 most dangerous boroughs in London. The overall crime rate in Lewisham in 2021 was 85 crimes per 1,000 people. This compares favourably to London's overall crime rate, coming in 1.5% lower than the London rate of 87 per 1,000 residents. For England, Wales, and Northern Ireland as a whole, Lewisham is the 28th most dangerous city, and the 879th most dangerous location out of all towns, cities, and villages.
In June 2020, Lewisham had the worst crime rate in London for burglary, with 215 crimes reported and a crime rate of 0.70 per 1,000 inhabitants. March 2018 was also a bad month for Lewisham residents, when it was London's most dangerous area for criminal damage and arson, recording 221 crimes at a rate of 0.72 per 1,000 residents. Lewisham recorded 25 reports of possession of weapons during December 2016, making its crime rate of 0.08 the worst for possession of weapons in London that month.
The most common crimes in Lewisham are violence and sexual offences, with 8,695 offences during 2021, giving a crime rate of 28. This is 0.43% lower than 2020's figure of 8,732 offences and a difference of 0.12 from 2020's crime rate of 29. Lewisham's least common crimes are possession of weapons, with 233 offences recorded in 2021, a decrease of 11% from 2020's figure of 259 crimes.
Top 20 Most Dangerous
Boroughs, London
0.97% lower, regional crime rate
London
15% higher, national crime rate
England, Wales & NI
As of 2022, the crime rate in Lewisham is 0.97% lower than London and 15% higher than the England, Wales & Northern Ireland overall figure.
| Lewisham | |
| London | |
| England, Wales & NI |
Incidents mapped in Lewisham represent the time frame between April 2019 and March 2022. Each point on the map represents an area where crimes have been recorded locally.
Last updated: 11 May, 2022
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 visualize the data you need.
Last updated: 11 May, 2022
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| Year | Crime Rate per 1,000 people | Total Crimes |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 85 | 26,128 |
| 2020 | 88 | 26,978 |
| 2019 | 91 | 27,764 |
| 2018 | 85 | 25,926 |
| 2017 | 80 | 24,345 |
| 2016 | 79 | 24,086 |
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| Lewisham | London | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crime | Count | Rate | Count | Rate | Rate Difference |
| Anti-Social Behaviour | 9,085 | 29.70 | 303,000 | 33.85 | 14% safer |
| Bicycle Theft | 488 | 1.60 | 21,536 | 2.41 | 51% safer |
| Burglary | 2,036 | 6.66 | 52,414 | 5.85 | 12% more dangerous |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | 2,199 | 7.19 | 53,198 | 5.94 | 17% more dangerous |
| Drugs | 1,357 | 4.44 | 43,227 | 4.83 | 9% safer |
| Other Crime | 351 | 1.15 | 10,265 | 1.15 | 0% safer |
| Other Theft | 2,731 | 8.93 | 90,137 | 10.07 | 13% safer |
| Possession of Weapons | 233 | 0.76 | 5,014 | 0.56 | 26% more dangerous |
| Public Order | 2,233 | 7.30 | 61,305 | 6.85 | 6% more dangerous |
| Robbery | 692 | 2.26 | 22,528 | 2.52 | 12% safer |
| Shoplifting | 1,069 | 3.50 | 33,674 | 3.76 | 7% safer |
| Theft From the Person | 543 | 1.78 | 39,809 | 4.45 | 150% safer |
| Vehicle Crime | 3,501 | 11.45 | 98,517 | 11.00 | 3.9% more dangerous |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | 8,695 | 28.43 | 244,975 | 27.36 | 3.8% more dangerous |
| Borough | Total Crimes | Crime Rate | Rate Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ealing | 27,933 | 81.72 | 4.5% safer |
| Brent | 27,080 | 82.12 | 4.0% safer |
| Croydon | 31,894 | 82.48 | 3.6% safer |
| Hounslow | 22,555 | 83.07 | 2.8% safer |
| Enfield | 28,415 | 85.13 | 0.35% safer |
| Lewisham | 26,128 | 85.43 | - |
| Barking and Dagenham | 18,483 | 86.81 | 1.6% more dangerous |
| Greenwich | 25,037 | 86.95 | 1.7% more dangerous |
| Newham | 32,828 | 92.96 | 8% more dangerous |
| Lambeth | 31,362 | 96.19 | 11% more dangerous |
| Tower Hamlets | 31,621 | 97.37 | 12% more dangerous |
View crime percentage over time for
| Date | Crime Type | Location | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 2022 | Vehicle crime | On or near Fairlawn Park | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Other theft | On or near Farmfield Road | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Criminal damage and arson | On or near Harland Road | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Criminal damage and arson | On or near Sydenham Hill | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Vehicle crime | On or near Blacklands Road | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Other theft | On or near Thriffwood | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Criminal damage and arson | On or near Arngask Road | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Shoplifting | On or near Alice Thompson Close | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Vehicle crime | On or near Supermarket | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Other theft | On or near Brockill Crescent | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Other theft | On or near Endwell Road | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Vehicle crime | On or near Fernbrook Road | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Vehicle crime | On or near Parking Area | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Criminal damage and arson | On or near Geoffrey Road | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Other theft | On or near Whitburn Road | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Vehicle crime | On or near Venner Road | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Vehicle crime | On or near Blythe Hill | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Public order | On or near Halley Gardens | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Public order | On or near Tarleton Gardens | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Vehicle crime | On or near Queenswood Road | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| Crime Rate Per 1,000 Residents | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crime | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | Trend |
| Anti-Social Behaviour | 21 | 23 | 43 | 30 | Getting worse |
| Bicycle Theft | 1.3 | 1.4 | 2.0 | 1.6 | Getting worse |
| Burglary | 8 | 9 | 8 | 7 | Safer |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | Getting worse |
| Drugs | 3.9 | 4.2 | 4.8 | 4.4 | Getting worse |
| Other Crime | 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 1.2 | Getting worse |
| Other Theft | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | Safer |
| Possession of Weapons | 0.89 | 0.92 | 0.85 | 0.76 | Safer |
| Public Order | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | Getting worse |
| Robbery (inc. mugging) | 3.5 | 4.0 | 3.1 | 2.3 | Safer |
| Shoplifting | 3.8 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 3.5 | Safer |
| Theft From the Person (inc. pickpocketing) | 1.8 | 2.9 | 1.7 | 1.8 | Safer |
| Vehicle Crime | 11 | 13 | 13 | 11 | Getting worse |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | 27 | 28 | 29 | 28 | Getting worse |
We only display green spaces in Lewisham that are named, and have had crimes recorded within their boundaries during 2021.
| Name | ASB | Drugs | Public Order | Robbery | VSO | All Others | Crimes per Hectare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cornmill Gardens | 23 | 9 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 34 | 108 |
| Deptford Park | - | - | 1 | 1 | - | 5 | 1.0 |
| Luxmore Gardens | 12 | - | 1 | - | 2 | 6 | 52 |
| Mountsfield Park | 42 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 4.6 |
| Prendergast Girls School Playing Field | 20 | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | 7 |
| City | Crime Rate | Rate Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Coventry | 39.93 | 114% safer |
| Birmingham | 49.60 | 72% safer |
| Barnet | 67.08 | 27% safer |
| Croydon | 82.48 | 3.6% safer |
| Lewisham | 85.43 | - |
| Sheffield | 90.03 | 5% more dangerous |
| Bristol | 90.52 | 6% more dangerous |
| Leicester | 111.59 | 23% more dangerous |
| Liverpool | 123.06 | 31% more dangerous |
| Bradford | 132.28 | 35% more dangerous |
| Leeds | 150.94 | 43% more dangerous |
Lewisham Central & Park is the most dangerous neighbourhood in Lewisham, followed by Catford Bridge in second place, and New Cross & Deptford South as the third most dangerous area. Lewisham's safest neighbourhoods are, in order, Corbett Estate, Lee, and Loampit & Hilly Fields.
| Neighbourhood | Crime Count | Crime Rate | Danger Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beckenham Hill | 568 | 76 | 19th |
| Bellingham & Perry Hill | 1,042 | 119 | Fourth |
| Blackheath Village | 581 | 84 | 11th |
| Blackheath West | 626 | 75 | 20th |
| Brockley East & St Johns | 743 | 86 | Tenth |
| Brockley West | 485 | 56 | 32nd |
| Catford Bridge | 1,748 | 170 | Second |
| Catford East & Mountsfield Park | 747 | 112 | Fifth |
| Chinbrook | 429 | 66 | 30th |
| Corbett Estate | 431 | 50 | 34th |
| Crofton Park | 453 | 65 | 31st |
| Culverley Green | 580 | 77 | 18th |
| Deptford North | 709 | 80 | 16th |
| Downham East | 638 | 83 | 13th |
| Downham West | 699 | 86 | Ninth |
| Forest Hill East | 455 | 55 | 33rd |
| Forest Hill West | 649 | 74 | 21st |
| Forster Park & Southend | 870 | 96 | Sixth |
| Further Green | 556 | 81 | 15th |
| Grove Park & Lee South | 593 | 67 | 28th |
| Hither Green | 790 | 95 | Seventh |
| Honor Oak | 639 | 73 | 22nd |
| Ladywell | 598 | 81 | 14th |
| Lee | 334 | 44 | 36th |
| Lewisham Central & Park | 2,519 | 172 | First |
| Loampit & Hilly Fields | 369 | 50 | 35th |
| Lower Sydenham | 598 | 71 | 24th |
| Manor House | 674 | 77 | 17th |
| New Cross & Deptford South | 1,257 | 151 | Third |
| New Cross Gate | 783 | 84 | 12th |
| New Cross South | 908 | 91 | Eighth |
| Perry Vale | 581 | 69 | 26th |
| Silwood & Pepys | 772 | 66 | 29th |
| Sydenham Wells | 617 | 73 | 23rd |
| Telegraph Hill | 602 | 68 | 27th |
| Upper Sydenham | 534 | 70 | 25th |
Showing the safest and most dangerous parts of Lewisham for specific criminal activity, with crime count and rate shown in brackets.
| Crime Type | Safest Neighbourhood | Most Dangerous Neighbourhood |
|---|---|---|
| Anti-Social Behaviour | Forest Hill East (110) | Catford Bridge (549) |
| Bicycle Theft | Downham East (2) | Lewisham Central & Park (88) |
| Burglary | Loampit & Hilly Fields (20) | Catford Bridge (170) |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | Lee (23) | New Cross & Deptford South (103) |
| Drugs | Lee (10) | Catford Bridge (152) |
| Other Crime | Sydenham Wells (3) | Lewisham Central & Park (35) |
| Other Theft | Forest Hill East (36) | Lewisham Central & Park (323) |
| Possession of Weapons | Crofton Park (1) | Catford Bridge (27) |
| Public Order | Corbett Estate (17) | Lewisham Central & Park (251) |
| Robbery (inc. mugging) | Culverley Green (3) | New Cross & Deptford South (78) |
| Shoplifting | Corbett Estate (1) | Lewisham Central & Park (234) |
| Theft From the Person (inc. pickpocketing) | Lee (1) | Lewisham Central & Park (152) |
| Vehicle Crime | Silwood & Pepys (66) | Catford Bridge (183) |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | Lee (71) | Lewisham Central & Park (774) |
Looking at the months the UK was in lockdown in 2020 due to Covid-19, how did crime rates in Lewisham change compared to the same month in 2019? The biggest increase in lockdown crime came in April, when Lewisham saw a 290% increase in anti-social behaviour. Lewisham saw a large fall in theft from the person during May, when it fell by 79% compared to May in 2019. Other Theft saw a fall in every month of Lewisham's lockdown.
| Crime | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anti-Social Behaviour | +35% | +290% | +215% | +81% | +37% | +86% | +70% | +49% | +85% | +65% |
| Bicycle Theft | -28% | -14% | +39% | +14% | +165% | +154% | +47% | +90% | +113% | +136% |
| Burglary | -24% | -10% | -27% | 0% | -15% | -4% | -14% | +5% | +40% | -14% |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | -23% | -1% | -8% | +13% | +18% | +28% | +18% | -19% | -10% | -1% |
| Drugs | -13% | +92% | +92% | +35% | -1% | -40% | -50% | +42% | -6% | +44% |
| Other Crime | -24% | +3% | -31% | -4% | +52% | +13% | -17% | -22% | - | -33% |
| Other Theft | -33% | -38% | -36% | -20% | -18% | -6% | +5% | -5% | -20% | -22% |
| Possession of Weapons | -19% | +31% | -17% | -15% | +11% | -4% | +10% | -24% | -11% | -25% |
| Public Order | -12% | +18% | - | +28% | +12% | +21% | +37% | +14% | -5% | -1% |
| Robbery | +32% | -54% | -52% | -60% | -27% | +20% | -24% | -24% | -13% | -26% |
| Shoplifting | +1% | -42% | -42% | -17% | +28% | +16% | +35% | +7% | +31% | -6% |
| Theft From the Person | -17% | -77% | -79% | -67% | -36% | -58% | -28% | -22% | -24% | -41% |
| Vehicle Crime | -31% | -21% | -32% | -12% | +26% | - | +15% | +34% | +15% | -4% |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | -3% | -8% | -3% | +9% | +5% | +13% | +1% | -2% | -10% | -3% |
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