Crime in St James's: statistics, rates and trends
20,455 crimes were recorded in St James's in the 12 months to July 2026, 1,786.2 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 16% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in St James's at a glance
- Crime trends in St James's
- Types of crime in St James's
- St James's compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in St James's
- What happened after crimes were reported in St James's
- Population and deprivation in St James's
- Questions about crime in St James's
- About this data
20,455 crimes were recorded in St James's in the 12 months to July 2026, 1,786.2 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 16% on the year before. The most common offence was theft from the person, with 5,025 reports (25% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, St James's has the 2nd highest crime rate.
| Measure | St James's | Westminster | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 20,455 | 87,349 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 1,786.2 | 416.0 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -16% | -14% | -1% |
| Population | 11,452 | 209,996 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in St James's was highest in the year to July 2024 (25,708 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2021 (10,472). Over the whole period it rose 27%, against a fall of 4% across England and Wales. Rates use today's population for every year, so they show the direction of change rather than exact historic rates.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to July 2026 | 20,455 | 1,786.2 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 24,488 | 2,138.3 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 25,708 | 2,244.8 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 24,672 | 2,154.4 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 19,046 | 1,663.1 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 10,472 | 914.4 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 16,725 | 1,460.4 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 23,039 | 2,011.8 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 16,102 | 1,406.0 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 1,569 |
| June 2026 | 1,533 |
| May 2026 | 1,582 |
| April 2026 | 1,472 |
| March 2026 | 1,459 |
| February 2026 | 1,489 |
| January 2026 | 1,734 |
| December 2025 | 2,081 |
| November 2025 | 2,044 |
| October 2025 | 1,955 |
| September 2025 | 1,774 |
| August 2025 | 1,763 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in St James's over the 12 months to July 2026. The index compares the local rate with England and Wales: 1.00 is the national rate, 2.00 is double it. Rates were well above the national level for theft from the person, other theft, violence and sexual offences.
The largest increases were in possession of weapons (+58%) and drugs (+33%). The largest falls were in vehicle crime (-51%) and theft from the person (-41%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Theft from the person | 5,025 | 438.8 | 259.76 | -41% |
| Other theft | 4,333 | 378.4 | 59.17 | -9% |
| Violence and sexual offences | 3,253 | 284.1 | 8.30 | +1% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 2,585 | 225.7 | 14.71 | -1% |
| Shoplifting | 1,314 | 114.7 | 13.85 | +13% |
| Public order | 1,182 | 103.2 | 15.53 | +27% |
| Drugs | 736 | 64.3 | 19.66 | +33% |
| Robbery | 660 | 57.6 | 42.66 | -23% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 366 | 32.0 | 4.71 | -31% |
| Burglary | 294 | 25.7 | 7.26 | -16% |
| Vehicle crime | 277 | 24.2 | 4.91 | -51% |
| Bicycle theft | 227 | 19.8 | 24.08 | +0% |
| Possession of weapons | 120 | 10.5 | 10.79 | +58% |
| Other crime | 83 | 7.2 | 3.43 | -7% |
Theft from the person in St James's
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. St James's recorded 5,025 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (438.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 41% on the year before. It made up 24.6% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in St James's
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. St James's recorded 4,333 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (378.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 9% on the year before. It made up 21.2% of all crime in the area.
Violence and sexual offences in St James's
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. St James's recorded 3,253 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (284.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 15.9% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in St James's
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. St James's recorded 2,585 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (225.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 1% on the year before. It made up 12.6% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in St James's
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. St James's recorded 1,314 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (114.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 13% on the year before. It made up 6.4% of all crime in the area.
Public order in St James's
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. St James's recorded 1,182 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (103.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 27% on the year before. It made up 5.8% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in St James's
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. St James's recorded 736 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (64.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 33% on the year before. It made up 3.6% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in St James's
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. St James's recorded 660 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (57.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and down 23% on the year before. It made up 3.2% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in St James's
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. St James's recorded 366 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (32.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 31% on the year before. It made up 1.8% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in St James's
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. St James's recorded 294 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (25.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 16% on the year before. It made up 1.4% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in St James's
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. St James's recorded 277 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (24.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 51% on the year before. It made up 1.4% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in St James's
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. St James's recorded 227 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (19.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 1.1% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in St James's
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. St James's recorded 120 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 58% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in St James's
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. St James's recorded 83 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to St James's, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to St James's.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs St James's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vincent Square | 2,580 | 248.6 | -86% |
| West End | 25,568 | 2,244.6 | +26% |
| Pimlico North | 2,861 | 261.2 | -85% |
| Pimlico South | 1,038 | 109.3 | -94% |
| Knightsbridge & Belgravia | 4,173 | 350.5 | -80% |
| Marylebone | 9,442 | 647.0 | -64% |
| Hyde Park | 2,490 | 269.6 | -85% |
| Church Street | 2,156 | 176.5 | -90% |
Police.uk records each crime at an approximate location, usually the centre of a nearby street or a landmark, to protect victims' privacy. These are the locations with the most reports in St James's over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Theatre/Concert Hall | 2,018 |
| On or near Nightclub | 1,883 |
| On or near Bridge Street | 861 |
| On or near Leicester Square | 722 |
| On or near Parking Area | 674 |
| On or near Police Station | 642 |
| On or near Little Newport Street | 424 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 416 |
| On or near William Iv Street | 394 |
| On or near Conference/Exhibition Centre | 384 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in St James's over the 12 months to July 2026. Many cases are still open when the data is published, and anti-social behaviour has no outcome recorded, so these shares change as investigations finish.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 11,502 | 56.2% |
| Not recorded | 2,585 | 12.6% |
| Under investigation | 2,012 | 9.8% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 1,993 | 9.7% |
| Status update unavailable | 937 | 4.6% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 731 | 3.6% |
| Local resolution | 330 | 1.6% |
| Court result unavailable | 197 | 1.0% |
| Offender given penalty notice | 51 | 0.2% |
| Offender given a caution | 51 | 0.2% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 39 | 0.2% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 16 | 0.1% |
St James's has an estimated population of 11,452. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in St James's sits in decile 5.6, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | St James's |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 8.5% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 79.6% |
| Aged 65 and over | 11.9% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 23.2% |
| Social rented homes | 28.3% |
| Private rented homes | 48.4% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.6 |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 11.5% |
Is St James's a safe place to live?
St James's recorded 1,786.2 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4. Crime is concentrated in a small number of places within most areas, often busy centres and transport hubs, so the rate for a single street can differ a lot from the area as a whole.
What is the most common crime in St James's?
Theft from the person was the most common category, with 5,025 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by other theft (4,333).
Is crime in St James's going up or down?
Recorded crime in St James's was down 16% on the year before: 20,455 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 24,488 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers St James's?
St James's is policed by Metropolitan Police. Non-emergency crimes can be reported online to the force or by calling 101; in an emergency call 999.
How are these crime rates calculated?
Each rate is the number of crimes recorded by the police in the 12 months to July 2026, divided by the resident population and multiplied by 1,000. Crime data is from data.police.uk and population estimates are from the Office for National Statistics.
Figures are police-recorded crime published on data.police.uk, covering August 2017 to July 2026. Each crime is counted in the small area (LSOA) where it was recorded and added up to St James's. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.