Crime in St Mary's & St James': statistics, rates and trends
2,536 crimes were recorded in St Mary's & St James' in the 12 months to July 2026, 218.2 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 1% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in St Mary's & St James' at a glance
- Crime trends in St Mary's & St James'
- Types of crime in St Mary's & St James'
- St Mary's & St James' compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in St Mary's & St James'
- What happened after crimes were reported in St Mary's & St James'
- Population and deprivation in St Mary's & St James'
- Questions about crime in St Mary's & St James'
- About this data
2,536 crimes were recorded in St Mary's & St James' in the 12 months to July 2026, 218.2 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 1% on the year before. The most common offence was shoplifting, with 582 reports (23% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, St Mary's & St James' has the 164th highest crime rate.
| Measure | St Mary's & St James' | Islington | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 2,536 | 41,000 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 218.2 | 183.8 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +1% | -1% | -1% |
| Population | 11,625 | 223,024 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in St Mary's & St James' was highest in the year to July 2020 (2,576 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2023 (2,211). Over the whole period it rose 13%, 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 | 2,536 | 218.2 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 2,510 | 215.9 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 2,439 | 209.8 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 2,211 | 190.2 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 2,313 | 199.0 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 2,248 | 193.4 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 2,576 | 221.6 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 2,541 | 218.6 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 2,240 | 192.7 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 257 |
| June 2026 | 201 |
| May 2026 | 237 |
| April 2026 | 276 |
| March 2026 | 227 |
| February 2026 | 161 |
| January 2026 | 197 |
| December 2025 | 166 |
| November 2025 | 203 |
| October 2025 | 221 |
| September 2025 | 210 |
| August 2025 | 180 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in St Mary's & St James' 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 shoplifting, anti-social behaviour, other theft.
The largest increases were in shoplifting (+24%) and public order (+13%). The largest falls were in criminal damage and arson (-28%) and burglary (-24%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shoplifting | 582 | 50.1 | 6.04 | +24% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 475 | 40.9 | 2.66 | +13% |
| Violence and sexual offences | 460 | 39.6 | 1.16 | +3% |
| Other theft | 245 | 21.1 | 3.30 | -8% |
| Theft from the person | 191 | 16.4 | 9.73 | -20% |
| Public order | 134 | 11.5 | 1.73 | +13% |
| Vehicle crime | 99 | 8.5 | 1.73 | -10% |
| Burglary | 72 | 6.2 | 1.75 | -24% |
| Robbery | 70 | 6.0 | 4.46 | -11% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 68 | 5.8 | 0.86 | -28% |
| Drugs | 67 | 5.8 | 1.76 | -21% |
| Bicycle theft | 54 | 4.6 | 5.64 | -19% |
| Other crime | 13 | 1.1 | 0.53 | +18% |
| Possession of weapons | 6 | 0.5 | 0.53 | -14% |
Shoplifting in St Mary's & St James'
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. St Mary's & St James' recorded 582 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (50.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 24% on the year before. It made up 22.9% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in St Mary's & St James'
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. St Mary's & St James' recorded 475 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (40.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 13% on the year before. It made up 18.7% of all crime in the area.
Violence and sexual offences in St Mary's & St James'
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. St Mary's & St James' recorded 460 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (39.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 3% on the year before. It made up 18.1% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in St Mary's & St James'
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. St Mary's & St James' recorded 245 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (21.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 9.7% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in St Mary's & St James'
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. St Mary's & St James' recorded 191 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (16.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 20% on the year before. It made up 7.5% of all crime in the area.
Public order in St Mary's & St James'
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. St Mary's & St James' recorded 134 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (11.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 13% on the year before. It made up 5.3% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in St Mary's & St James'
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. St Mary's & St James' recorded 99 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 10% on the year before. It made up 3.9% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in St Mary's & St James'
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. St Mary's & St James' recorded 72 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 24% on the year before. It made up 2.8% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in St Mary's & St James'
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. St Mary's & St James' recorded 70 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and down 11% on the year before. It made up 2.8% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in St Mary's & St James'
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. St Mary's & St James' recorded 68 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 28% on the year before. It made up 2.7% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in St Mary's & St James'
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. St Mary's & St James' recorded 67 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 21% on the year before. It made up 2.6% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in St Mary's & St James'
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. St Mary's & St James' recorded 54 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 19% on the year before. It made up 2.1% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in St Mary's & St James'
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. St Mary's & St James' recorded 13 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 18% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in St Mary's & St James'
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. St Mary's & St James' recorded 6 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 14% on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to St Mary's & St James', for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to St Mary's & St James'.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs St Mary's & St James' |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canonbury | 1,321 | 115.0 | -47% |
| St Peter's & Canalside | 2,167 | 154.8 | -29% |
| Barnsbury | 2,304 | 204.3 | -6% |
| Laycock | 3,077 | 179.7 | -18% |
| Caledonian | 2,923 | 244.7 | +12% |
| Clerkenwell | 2,834 | 238.8 | +9% |
| Mildmay | 1,366 | 100.4 | -54% |
| Bunhill | 3,595 | 304.0 | +39% |
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 Mary's & St James' over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Shopping Area | 312 |
| On or near Collins Yard | 225 |
| On or near Camden Walk | 128 |
| On or near Islington Green | 119 |
| On or near Horse Yard | 96 |
| On or near Theatre/Concert Hall | 90 |
| On or near Upper Street | 80 |
| On or near Greenman Street | 67 |
| On or near Essex Road | 63 |
| On or near Queensbury Street | 61 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in St Mary's & St James' 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 | 1,224 | 48.3% |
| Not recorded | 475 | 18.7% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 429 | 16.9% |
| Under investigation | 209 | 8.2% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 90 | 3.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 61 | 2.4% |
| Local resolution | 24 | 0.9% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 7 | 0.3% |
| Court result unavailable | 6 | 0.2% |
| Offender given penalty notice | 5 | 0.2% |
| Offender given a caution | 4 | 0.2% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.1% |
St Mary's & St James' has an estimated population of 11,625. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in St Mary's & St James' sits in decile 4.0, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | St Mary's & St James' |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 13.6% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 76.1% |
| Aged 65 and over | 10.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 28.7% |
| Social rented homes | 39.4% |
| Private rented homes | 31.8% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 4.0 |
Is St Mary's & St James' a safe place to live?
St Mary's & St James' recorded 218.2 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 Mary's & St James'?
Shoplifting was the most common category, with 582 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (475).
Is crime in St Mary's & St James' going up or down?
Recorded crime in St Mary's & St James' was up 1% on the year before: 2,536 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 2,510 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers St Mary's & St James'?
St Mary's & St James' 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 Mary's & St James'. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.