Crime in West End, Westminster: statistics, rates and trends
25,082 crimes were recorded in West End, Westminster in the 12 months to August 2026, 2,201.9 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 26% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in West End, Westminster at a glance
- Crime trends in West End, Westminster
- Types of crime in West End, Westminster
- West End, Westminster compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in West End, Westminster
- What happened after crimes were reported in West End, Westminster
- Demographics of West End, Westminster
- Questions about crime in West End, Westminster
- About this data
Crime map
Theft from the person (7,604), other theft (5,418) and shoplifting (3,467) made up 66% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 1st of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the highest tenth.
| Measure | West End, Westminster | Westminster | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 25,082 | 86,028 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 2,201.9 | 409.7 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -26% | -15% | -1% |
| Population | 11,391 | 209,996 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in West End, Westminster peaked in the year to August 2024 (36,873 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2021 (13,156). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it rose 17%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 25,082 | 2,201.9 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 34,042 | 2,988.5 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 36,873 | 3,237.0 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 33,523 | 2,942.9 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 26,510 | 2,327.3 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 13,156 | 1,154.9 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 19,272 | 1,691.9 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 27,230 | 2,390.5 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 21,436 | 1,881.8 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 1,684 |
| July 2026 | 1,962 |
| June 2026 | 1,770 |
| May 2026 | 1,701 |
| April 2026 | 1,846 |
| March 2026 | 1,842 |
| February 2026 | 1,943 |
| January 2026 | 2,051 |
| December 2025 | 2,982 |
| November 2025 | 2,974 |
| October 2025 | 2,305 |
| September 2025 | 2,022 |
Compared with England and Wales, West End, Westminster recorded notably more theft from the person (396.8 times the national rate), other theft (73.8 times the national rate) and robbery (58.3 times the national rate). On the year before, possession of weapons rose from 37 to 71 and drugs rose from 473 to 705, while vehicle crime fell from 1,086 to 528 and theft from the person fell from 14,704 to 7,604.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Theft from the person | 7,604 | 667.5 | 1.7 | -48% |
| Other theft | 5,418 | 475.6 | 6.4 | -25% |
| Shoplifting | 3,467 | 304.4 | 8.5 | +37% |
| Violence and sexual offences | 2,607 | 228.9 | 34.2 | -1% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 2,003 | 175.8 | 15.4 | -7% |
| Robbery | 905 | 79.4 | 1.4 | -33% |
| Public order | 729 | 64.0 | 6.7 | +16% |
| Drugs | 705 | 61.9 | 3.3 | +49% |
| Burglary | 532 | 46.7 | 3.6 | -15% |
| Vehicle crime | 528 | 46.4 | 5.0 | -51% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 241 | 21.2 | 6.7 | -37% |
| Bicycle theft | 158 | 13.9 | 0.8 | +7% |
| Other crime | 114 | 10.0 | 2.1 | -3% |
| Possession of weapons | 71 | 6.2 | 1.0 | +92% |
What each category covers: crime categories.
West End, Westminster has a higher crime rate than all 8 of its nearest neighbourhoods.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs West End, Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marylebone | 9,393 | 643.6 | -71% |
| St James's | 20,108 | 1,755.9 | -20% |
| Hyde Park | 2,455 | 265.8 | -88% |
| Church Street | 2,160 | 176.8 | -92% |
| Regent's Park | 2,418 | 186.4 | -92% |
| Knightsbridge & Belgravia | 4,109 | 345.1 | -84% |
| Vincent Square | 2,514 | 242.3 | -89% |
| Lancaster Gate | 2,739 | 242.6 | -89% |
The 10 locations below account for 44% of the crime recorded in West End, Westminster over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Nightclub” (3,454).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Nightclub | 3,454 |
| On or near Further/Higher Educational Building | 1,936 |
| On or near Hills Place | 1,138 |
| On or near Dering Street | 887 |
| On or near John Prince'S Street | 806 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 618 |
| On or near Argyll Street | 604 |
| On or near Red Place | 604 |
| On or near Theatre/Concert Hall | 593 |
| On or near Great Windmill Street | 501 |
Of the 23,079 crimes in West End, Westminster with a recorded outcome, 72% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 2.7% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 2,003 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 16,559 | 71.7% | 35.3% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 2,258 | 9.8% | 34.5% |
| Under investigation | 1,952 | 8.5% | 11.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 908 | 3.9% | 4.7% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 629 | 2.7% | 5.2% |
| Local resolution | 348 | 1.5% | 3.1% |
| Court result unavailable | 246 | 1.1% | 2.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 65 | 0.3% | 0.6% |
| Offender given penalty notice | 57 | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 32 | 0.1% | 0.3% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 14 | 0.1% | 1.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 10 | 0.0% | 0.5% |
West End, Westminster has an estimated population of 11,391 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has more households without a car (74%, against 23%), more private renting (51%, against 20%) and more students (18.2%, against 7.9%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up West End, Westminster average decile 5.0 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | West End, Westminster | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 7.5% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 13.5% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 56.6% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 4.0% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 10.6% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 18.2% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 61.2% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 9.9% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 73.6% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 23.5% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 25.4% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 50.9% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.0 | 5.5 (England) |
Is West End, Westminster a safe place to live?
West End, Westminster recorded 2,201.9 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 1st of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were theft from the person and other theft.
What is the most common crime in West End, Westminster?
Theft from the person was the most common category, with 7,604 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by other theft (5,418).
Is crime in West End, Westminster going up or down?
Recorded crime in West End, Westminster was down 26% on the year before: 25,082 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 34,042 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of West End, Westminster?
About 11,391 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 14% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers West End, Westminster?
West End, Westminster is policed by Metropolitan Police.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.