Crime and Safety in Southwark

Last updated: 07 Jun 2026

Page highlights:

Southwark is among the top 10 most dangerous boroughs in London. The overall crime rate in Southwark in 2026 is 91 crimes per 1,000 people. This compares poorly to London's overall crime rate, coming in 11% higher than the London rate of 82 per 1,000 daytime population. For England, Wales, and Northern Ireland as a whole, Southwark is among the top 20 most dangerous cities, and the 581st most dangerous location out of all towns, cities, and villages.

In February 2026, Southwark had the worst crime rate in London for robbery, with 176 crimes reported and a crime rate of 0.41 per 1,000 daytime population. June 2025 was also a bad month for Southwark residents, when it was London's most dangerous area for possession of weapons, recording 34 crimes at a rate of 0.08 per 1,000 daytime population.

The most common crimes in Southwark are violence and sexual offences, with 10,185 offences during 2026, giving a crime rate of 24. This is 1.3% higher than 2025's figure of 10,057 offences and a difference of 0.25 from 2025's crime rate of 23. Southwark's least common crimes are possession of weapons, with 313 offences recorded in 2026, an increase of 15% from 2025's figure of 272 crimes.

Southwark 2026 Crime Scorecard

Top 10 Most Dangerous

Boroughs, London

14% higher, regional crime rate

London

27% higher, national crime rate

England, Wales & NI

Local Crime in Context

As of April 2026, the crime rate in Southwark is 14% higher than London and 27% higher than the England, Wales & Northern Ireland overall figure.

Southwark Crime Rate Over Time

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Southwark
London
England, Wales & NI

Southwark Crime Map

Incidents mapped in Southwark 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.

Open Crime Map
Design element, blobs on the right

See How Southwark Compares

You can compare Southwark'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.

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Introduction to Southwark's crime statistics

 

This crime profile provides a detailed view of crime and safety around Southwark up to April 2026, the most recent data release available. The crime figures and statistics have been calculated across each of Southwark's 7,198 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.

Overview map crime around Southwark

CrimeRate Insights

Looking into a specific address in Southwark? 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

Southwark • 12 Months Ending April 2026

 

The typical five-minute walk within Southwark has a crime risk score of 637. This is based on analysis of 7,198 nearby areas within Southwark, with "most" referring to roughly two thirds of the nearby locations.

Five Mins
637 crime risk score
Ten Mins
707 crime risk score
Fifteen Mins
758 crime risk score

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 Southwark's risk scores as, for example, robbery, or violence & sexual offences.

Within a five-minute walk of the typical location in Southwark, crime risk scores are typically around 637, while in London they are average 534.

Areas within a ten-minute walk typically see crime risk scores of 707 (613 for London), and scores within a fifteen-minute walk are most often around 758 (London 663).

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Trends in Crime Risk

Southwark

 

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.

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The 10-year trend indicates a decrease of 10% in Southwark'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 Southwark's crime risk score is up by 21%. 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, Southwark's crime risk score has shown an upward trend of approximately 2.4%, 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

Southwark

 

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

Southwark • 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
10.50 CrimeRate Index
Robbery
3.81 CrimeRate Index
Burglary
1.76 CrimeRate Index

Theft From the Person offences have a crime rate of 16 reports per 1,000 people in Southwark, which is 10 times the national average. This figure is calculated from 7,000 crime reports logged by Metropolitan Police during the 12-month period ending April 2026.

For the same period, Metropolitan Police recorded 1,929 reports of Robbery in Southwark, resulting in a crime rate of 4.50 reports per 1,000, and a CrimeRate Index of 3.81.

The crime rate for Burglary is 1.76 times the national average at 5.50 reports per 1,000. This is from 2,363 crime reports reported to Metropolitan Police.

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Most Significant 3-Year Increases in Crime Types

Southwark

 

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.

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Public Order offences are trending upwards, and have a CrimeRate Index of 0.85 for the month of April 2026.

Three years ago, the monthly Public Order CrimeRate Index was 0.70 times the national average, and the current trend indicates an increase of 21% over this timeframe.

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Theft From the Person offences are trending upwards, and have a CrimeRate Index of 11 for the month of April 2026.

Three years ago, the monthly Theft From the Person CrimeRate Index was 7.85 times the national average, and the current trend indicates an increase of 42% over this timeframe.

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Shoplifting offences are trending upwards, and have a CrimeRate Index of 0.98 for the month of April 2026.

Three years ago, the monthly Shoplifting CrimeRate Index was 0.70 times the national average, and the current trend indicates an increase of 40% over this timeframe.

Most Significant 3-Year Decreases in Crime Types

Southwark

 

Calculated with the same methodology as the largest increases section above.

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Robbery offences are trending downwards, and have a CrimeRate Index of 3.90 for the month of April 2026.

Three years ago, the monthly Robbery CrimeRate Index was 4.00 times the national average, and the current trend indicates a decrease of 2.5% over this timeframe.

Crime Type Breakdown & Heat Map

Southwark • 12 Months Ending April 2026

 

Size and colour reflect the CrimeRate Index figures for each type of crime.

 
Southwark
London
Metropolitan Police
Crime TypeCountRateIndexCountRateIndexCountRateIndex
Anti-Social Behaviour9,82922.851.62235,98521.681.53236,18721.581.53
Bicycle Theft1,0832.513.4413,6951.261.7313,7441.261.73
Burglary2,3635.501.7647,3594.341.3947,4514.331.38
Criminal Damage and Arson1,8684.340.6954,0984.990.7954,2204.970.79
Drugs1,9104.441.4453,1674.871.5853,2804.851.57
Other Crime4100.960.5213,0081.190.6413,0281.190.64
Other Theft5,03211.692.0597,4528.971.5897,7798.951.57
Possession of Weapons3130.730.866,4430.600.716,4610.600.71
Public Order2,1324.970.8660,0495.520.9560,1565.490.95
Robbery1,9294.503.8130,8042.832.4030,8572.832.40
Shoplifting2,6556.170.8787,9768.091.1388,2698.081.13
Theft From the Person7,00016.271077,1607.114.5977,3447.084.57
Vehicle Crime2,3755.521.2881,7557.501.7481,9007.501.74
Violence and Sexual Offences10,18523.680.78273,43425.120.83273,89725.040.82
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Total Crime by Year

 
Southwark
London
Metropolitan Police
YearCountRateIndexCountRateIndexCountRateIndex
202639,25591.281.27896,40082.391.14898,38682.171.14
202539,19692.581.25896,96183.231.12898,78782.941.12
202437,55689.471.19900,98684.381.12902,68184.121.12
202333,94381.341.03835,47178.981.00837,24478.791.00
202231,44075.640.98795,64675.770.99797,30375.560.98
202130,12671.591.04727,98369.091.01729,40168.831.00
202034,52981.321.10819,46777.661.05821,36277.411.04
201936,45485.931.13849,31080.701.06851,17580.591.06
201833,43179.241.11810,06377.081.08811,73876.911.08
201732,15876.641.20758,16072.411.13759,75572.221.13
20169,96123.751.25234,56522.421.18235,00322.391.17
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Crime in Southwark's Neighbourhoods

12 Months Ending Apr 2026

 

NeighbourhoodTotal CrimesCrime RateRate Difference
Bankside1,42351.11 44% safer
Bermondsey3,15092.90 1.8% more dangerous
Borough4,99083.71 8% safer
Camberwell4,48594.40 3.4% more dangerous
Dulwich Village33061.31 33% safer
East Dulwich1,68571.89 21% safer
Elephant and Castle3,277187.45 105% more dangerous
Herne Hill1,30862.02 32% safer
Newington2,59975.72 17% safer
Nunhead1,15862.36 32% safer
Peckham4,662121.82 33% more dangerous
Rotherhithe2,35277.69 15% safer
South Bermondsey1,85688.41 3.1% safer
Surrey Quays68498.72 8% more dangerous
Sydenham Hill11555.25 39% safer
Walworth5,465129.09 41% more dangerous
West Dulwich67760.69 34% safer

Southwark Compared to Other London Boroughs

12 Months Ending Apr 2026

 

BoroughTotal CrimesCrime RateRate Difference
Westminster75,198125.0237% more dangerous
Southwark39,25591.28-
Greenwich27,58387.114.6% safer
Brent32,65386.455% safer
Enfield29,37885.766% safer
Hammersmith and Fulham20,78684.887% safer
Barking and Dagenham19,66681.1211% safer
Hillingdon31,08980.6112% safer
Waltham Forest23,07680.1112% safer
Ealing32,44877.9515% safer
Hounslow26,74477.2915% safer
Croydon33,84175.5217% safer
Redbridge24,73373.6219% safer
Tower Hamlets37,48869.0324% safer
Havering19,43767.1326% safer
Wandsworth26,47066.9827% safer

Comparing Southwark to the UK's Major Cities

12 Months Ending Apr 2026

 

City NameCrime RateRate Difference
Cardiff79.5513% safer
Newcastle upon Tyne82.699% safer
Sheffield84.098% safer
Southwark91.28-
Leicester97.877% more dangerous
Bristol104.6415% more dangerous
Birmingham105.0515% more dangerous
Liverpool106.4817% more dangerous
Leeds107.1017% more dangerous
Nottingham107.7418% more dangerous
Westminster125.0037% more dangerous

Offences In and Around Southwark's Parks & Leisure Spaces

 

Limited to spaces in Southwark that are named and have had crimes recorded within their boundaries in the 12 months to Apr 2026.

NameASBDrugsPublic OrderRobberyVSOAll Others
Burgess Park Community Sports Pitches11--12
Salisbury Row Park887284751
The Castle Centre51591353125
Tottenham Green359882368
Goose Green23131328
Piermont Green6123625
Glengall Wharf Community Garden445121430
St Mary's Churchyard51591353125
St Mary Frobisher Park2---914
Lavender Pond Nature Park--2-511
Cossall Park331213114792
Sunray Gardens6-121211
Peckham Rye Park458121540127
Brenchley Gardens11--1017
Camberwell Old Cemetery243113740
Crystal Palace Park12516181783123
Kings Grove Community Garden173362625
Christchurch Churchyard20-2121585
Guy Street Park53913113289
West Square Garden201142026
Victory Community Park8118101446163
Nursery Row Park130311457581
Surrey Square Park71121157075
Paterson Park313271923
Ecological Park26-1196
King Stairs Gardens6221726
Southwark Park72122218119213
Burgess Park50512368104341533
Leyton Square63521423
Brunswick Park3351-3443
Ruskin Park241145110121
St Francis Park121261434
Brimmington Park3145134562
Dulwich Park1--2-5
Dulwich Common Allotments11--115
Mary Datchelor Playing Fields3-1247
Camberwell New Cemetery163741414
Dunstans Road Allotments3---36
Lordship Lane Allotments711-1113
Horniman Triangle723-27
Nelson Square Garden388212942
Redcross Gardens17810121995
Mint Street Adventure Playground311-1810
Little Dorrit Park557111431119
St Georges Gardens219161222108
Leathermarket Community Park9713141555161
St John's Churchyard236161270
Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park50420114498
Lamlash Street Allotments673222217
Newington Gardens36218134780
Hankey Place Gardens1-131132
Dickens Square Park687582149
Tabard Gardens6394142561
David Copperfield Garden2816854673
Faraday Gardens4814161620425
St Mary Magdalen Church Yard588411987
Mayflower Gardens171151932
Paragon Gardens3117782587
Bermondsey Spa Gardens311644139
Aylesbury Road Allotments53--1526
St Mary's Churchyard7--21417
King George's Field296131536128
Shuttleworth Playground132522927
St James Road and Lynton Road Allotments East Side41--69
St James Road and Lynton Road Allotments West Side111-310
Kennington Park7412122363117
Fielding Street Allotments2216-1525
Pelier Park17-10-1523
Community Garden152122724
Caspian Street Allotments277332130
Community Garden-2113313
Burgess Park Community Sports Centre'121221121
St George's Churchyard104111118
Sceaux Gardens4131-923
Lucas Gardens167642446
Bonar Road Allotments426433035
St Giles' Churchyard1214-1825
Lettsom Gardens-2--37
Warwick Garden18251622
Wildlife Centre----1720
Caroline Gardens2341-715
Consort Park4--1711
Nunhead Reservoir Allotments103351732
Russia Dock Woodland37-512123
Nunhead Cemetery13-2-1128
Elephant Park7546132672207
Pullens Gardens10749855112103
Browning Settlement Garden2293-3032
Potters Fields1025621141
Benhill Road Nature Garden16212920
Dr Harold Moody Park41511213
Anne Keane Playground11433515
Dog Kennel Hill103392344

Recent Crimes in Southwark

The 20 most recent crime reports in Southwark.

 

DateCrime TypeLocationOutcome
April 2026DrugsOn or near Lacon Road
April 2026ShopliftingOn or near Shopping Area
April 2026ShopliftingOn or near Shopping Area
April 2026ShopliftingOn or near Shopping Area
April 2026ShopliftingOn or near Shopping Area
April 2026ShopliftingOn or near Shopping Area
April 2026ShopliftingOn or near Shopping Area
April 2026ShopliftingOn or near Shopping Area
April 2026ShopliftingOn or near Shopping Area
April 2026ShopliftingOn or near Shopping Area
April 2026Theft from the personOn or near Webber Street
April 2026Theft from the personOn or near Webber Street
April 2026Theft from the personOn or near Webber Street
April 2026Theft from the personOn or near Webber Street
April 2026Violence and sexual offencesOn or near Webber Street
April 2026Violence and sexual offencesOn or near Merrow Walk
April 2026Violence and sexual offencesOn or near Merrow Walk
April 2026Violence and sexual offencesOn or near Wren Road
April 2026Violence and sexual offencesOn or near Webber Street
April 2026Violence and sexual offencesOn or near Webber Street

Methodology & Data Sources

Southwark 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 Southwark during August 2026 will typically become available in October 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.

Southwark Data Points

For Southwark, 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 E43000218.

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 Southwark's daytime - or "workday" - population of 325,394 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.

Southwark geographic boundaries light outline
CrimeRate's boundaries for Southwark

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 Southwark

 

What police force serves Southwark?
Southwark's local territorial police force is the Metropolitan Police Service.

How dangerous is Southwark?
Southwark is among the top 10 most dangerous boroughs in London.

What is Southwark's most common crime?
The most common crimes in Southwark are violence and sexual offences.

What is the least common crime in Southwark?
Southwark's least common crimes are possession of weapons.