Facebook Pixel 'Through the roof' Is Trump right that crime in London is surging? | The Guardian - newspaper - Read this story on Magzter.com
Go Unlimited with Magzter GOLD

Go Unlimited with Magzter GOLD

Get unlimited access to 10,000+ magazines, newspapers and Premium stories for just

$149.99
 
$74.99/Year

Try GOLD - Free

'Through the roof' Is Trump right that crime in London is surging?

The Guardian

|

October 13, 2025

London is no longer a safe place to live, at least in the eyes of some of its richest residents - and the 47th president of the United States.

- Lauren Almeida

'Through the roof' Is Trump right that crime in London is surging?

"I think he's done a terrible job," Donald Trump said during his state visit to the UK last month in his latest broadside at London's mayor, Sadiq Khan. "Crime in London is through the roof."

Trump's view is increasingly accepted wisdom in rightwing circles and is gaining traction more widely. Crime is even being blamed - along with rising taxes - for an apparent exodus of the super-rich from the UK.

A prime property agent recalls a client's Rolex being stolen off his wrist the first night he moved into Kensington, the west London neighbourhood that is one of the city's most affluent.

Advisers to the super-rich describe a city where "spotters" linger outside exclusive restaurants sizing up possible targets, while demand for private bodyguards grows. It is a view that Reform UK's leader, Nigel Farage, often repeats, warning one journalist: "I dare you to walk through the West End of London after 9 o'clock of an evening wearing jewellery. You wouldn't do it. You know that I'm right. You wouldn't do it."

A series of high-profile crimes has helped reinforce that view.

The ex-Formula One driver Jenson Button and his wife, Brittny, had a suitcase containing £250,000 worth of valuables snatched within moments of their arrival at St Pancras International. In January, the socialite Shafira Huang's mansion in Primrose Hill, north London, was burgled, with thieves taking more than £10m worth of bespoke jewellery.

imageIn November, the owners of the Sellier luxury goods store in Knightsbridge shared footage of masked men ransacking their premises, later commenting: "London has just turned into something crazy."

MORE STORIES FROM The Guardian

The Guardian

Ineos reported to be in talks over asset sales to reduce debt

The chemicals empire owned by the billionaire Jim Ratcliffe is in talks to sell parts of the business in the hope of raising hundreds of millions of pounds to tackle its rising debts, according to a report.

time to read

1 mins

February 26, 2026

The Guardian

The Guardian

Earps admits learning ‘some tough lessons’ after book backlash

Mary Earps said she has “learned some tough lessons” and understands why there was such strong condemnation of comments made in her autobiography last year.

time to read

3 mins

February 26, 2026

The Guardian

'Fighting his corner'

Attack lawyers and narrative control show peer is no pushover

time to read

4 mins

February 26, 2026

The Guardian

The Guardian

Man held for allegedly entering Manchester mosque with an axe

Police in Manchester have arrested a suspect after a person allegedly entered Manchester Central mosque with an axe and a knife.

time to read

2 mins

February 26, 2026

The Guardian

Energy bills to fall for millions from April after cap drops by 7%

Annual energy bills will fall by £117 formillions of households from April after Rachel Reeves’s plan to cut £150 a year from bills was partly foiled by rising costs.

time to read

1 mins

February 26, 2026

The Guardian

Harvard Ex-president to resign from teaching amid investigation

Larry Summers, the former president of Harvard University, will resign from teaching at the end of the academic year, a spokesperson confirmed to the Guardian.

time to read

1 mins

February 26, 2026

The Guardian

Nuclear deal in reach, says Iran as talks begin

Iran enters critical talks with the US on its nuclear programme today, insisting a deal is in reach as long as Washington sticks by its willingness to make concessions.

time to read

3 mins

February 26, 2026

The Guardian

Israel culpable for two-thirds of press killings, report says

A record 129 journalists and media workers were killed in the course of their work in 2025, two-thirds of them by Israeli forces, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

time to read

3 mins

February 26, 2026

The Guardian

Damning report exposes scandal of NHS maternity unit 'cover-ups'

Hospitals that cause harm and injury to women and babies during childbirth often resort to a “cover-up” of their mistakes, falsify medical records and deny bereaved parents answers, a damning report has found.

time to read

4 mins

February 26, 2026

The Guardian

The Guardian

Fun and games

Norway’s gold rush can teach us plenty about our grassroots failings - if we let it

time to read

4 mins

February 26, 2026

Listen

Translate

Share

-
+

Change font size