A spike in violent crime in London saw more murders committed in the city in February and March than there were in New York, figures show.
So far in 2018, the Met Police has investigated 46 murders, compared with 50 in the US city. But, while New York’s murder rate decreased from the end of January, London’s rose markedly from that point.
Ex-Met Police Ch Supt Leroy Logan says it is proof that “London’s violent traits have become a virus”.
Statistics from the New York Police Department (NYPD) and the Metropolitan Police, reported in the Sunday Times, highlight narrowing murder rates between the two cities, which have similar population sizes.
City Hall says it is “deeply concerned” by knife crime in the capital, but, along with the Met Police, insists London “remains one of the safest [cities] in the world”.
In January, the Met investigated eight murders whereas the NYPD looked into 18 killings. By February, the NYPD’s figures had dropped to 11, while London’s rose to 15. In March, 22 murders were investigated in London while 21 inquiries were launched in New York. The Met said it was “concerned at the increase in murders in London”.