Greenwich Crime Rate

Greenwich is a major London local authority with an overall crime rate of 114.7 per 1,000 people, which is higher than the UK average of 91.6. This activity results in a safety score of 74/100, slightly below the national average of 79. The crime trend in Greenwich is currently stable, showing a minor 0.7% increase year-over-year. As a high-profile borough with significant tourist attractions, entertainment venues, and diverse residential areas, Greenwich experiences a wide range of criminal activity. While violence and anti-social behaviour are the most frequent offences, property-related crimes like theft and vehicle crime also represent a substantial portion of local reports. This data, covering Jan 2025 to Dec 2025, provides a comprehensive look at the safety landscape within the local authority.

About Greenwich

Greenwich is a historic and globally recognised London borough, famous for its maritime history and the Prime Meridian. Its crime statistics are influenced by its dual nature as both a major tourist destination and a densely populated residential area. The borough's heart, Greenwich Town Centre, attracts millions of visitors annually to attractions like the Cutty Sark and the National Maritime Museum, which can lead to higher rates of opportunistic theft and anti-social behaviour. Greenwich also contains major entertainment hubs like the O2 Arena, which brings a large transient population and an active nightlife scene. Beyond the tourist zones, the borough is a mix of diverse residential neighbourhoods, from high-density social housing to affluent riverside developments. Its transport links, including the DLR, North Greenwich tube station, and river services, facilitate high volumes of daily commuters. These factors, combined with pockets of urban deprivation and high footfall in commercial areas, contribute to the borough's overall crime rate and safety score.

Crime Breakdown in Greenwich

In Greenwich, violence and sexual offences are the most frequently reported crimes, accounting for 29.1% of all incidents. This is followed by anti-social behaviour at 19.5% and 'other theft' at 7.6%. When looking at property-related crime collectively—which includes burglary, vehicle crime, shoplifting, theft from the person, bicycle theft, and other theft—the rate is 43.4 per 1,000 people. This is significantly higher than the UK average of 32.2. Shoplifting is a notable concern at 7.4%, while vehicle crime accounts for 7.1%. Burglary makes up 4.2% of the total crime. For residents and visitors, this data suggests that while personal safety is the primary concern, the risk of theft and property crime is substantial, particularly in busy commercial and tourist areas where opportunistic offences are more common.

Crime Trends in Greenwich

The crime trend in Greenwich is currently stable, with a minor 0.7% increase in total offences over the last 12 months. This stability suggests that the borough's safety environment is consistent, despite its high activity levels. Monthly data for 2025 shows a clear seasonal pattern. The year began with lower rates of 8.6 in January and 8.4 in February. As the weather improved and tourist numbers likely increased, crime rates rose steadily, peaking in July at 10.8 and August at 10.4 per 1,000 people. This summer peak is common in boroughs with significant outdoor attractions and entertainment venues. The rates remained moderately high through the autumn, reaching 9.6 in October, before beginning a slight decline towards the end of the year, finishing at 8.8 in December. This data indicates that residents and visitors should be particularly vigilant during the summer months when the borough is at its most active.

When comparing Greenwich to its immediate neighbours, it occupies a high-activity position in South East London. Its crime rate of 114.7 per 1,000 is slightly lower than Lewisham's 119.4, but it is much more active than other nearby areas like Bexley, Newham, Tower Hamlets, Southwark, and Bromley, all of which show significantly lower rates in this data set. This disparity reflects Greenwich's unique status as a major cultural and entertainment hub. For those looking at the region, Greenwich represents the urban and commercial heart, while its neighbours—particularly Bexley and Bromley—offer a more suburban and quieter safety profile.

In Greenwich, where the property crime rate is 43.4 per 1,000, residents face a higher-than-average risk of burglary and theft. Traditional security systems, such as standard CCTV or doorbell cameras, are reactive; they provide a record of a crime after it has already occurred. In a high-activity borough like Greenwich, you need a proactive solution. scOS is an AI-powered home security operating system that prevents crime before it starts. By monitoring your property boundaries with multi-camera intelligence, scOS identifies potential threats in real-time. It can distinguish between your family, a delivery driver, and a genuine intruder, only alerting you to real threats. If an intruder is detected, scOS can autonomously activate deterrents like lights and speakers to stop a crime before it begins. For Greenwich homeowners, this proactive approach is the difference between having footage of a theft and preventing the theft from ever taking place. Professional-grade protection like scOS signals to criminals that your home is not an easy target.

How To Keep Safe in Greenwich

The most prevalent crime in the Greenwich local authority area is violence and sexual offences. Staying safe in this busy and historic borough requires a combination of personal awareness and proactive security.

1. When visiting high-footfall tourist areas like Greenwich Town Centre or the O2 Arena, remain alert and keep your personal belongings secure and out of sight.
2. Avoid walking alone in quiet or poorly lit areas, especially late at night; stick to well-travelled, well-lit pedestrian routes.
3. Ensure your home is well-secured with professional-grade locks and consider a proactive security system that alerts you to threats at the property boundary.
4. Be mindful of your surroundings when using ATMs or handling cash in public areas to prevent opportunistic theft.
5. Report any suspicious activity or anti-social behaviour to the local police to help them target their patrols effectively across the borough.
6. If you are out late, try to travel with others and use well-lit, main roads rather than shortcuts through parks or less-populated areas.