Caveats and interpretation of the Data

  • Data for comparison covers the 2021 and 2022 calendar years.
  • The data sources used are:
  • Where “London” figures are presented as benchmark data, this refers to crimes recorded by the Metropolitan Police Service that fall within the 32 London Boroughs (City of London not included).
  • Police-recorded crime gives a picture of the crime occurring in an area.
  • However, it is reliant on (a) persons reporting the crime in the first instance and (b) the recording practices of the local Police Force.
  • As such, Police-recorded crime provides a measure of the crime-related demand on Police, but not necessarily a full picture of crime.
  • Breaking down crime into categories at a local level can result in small numbers. Random variation in these figures over time can cause seemingly large percentage changes.