In a revealing new analysis, it’s been brought to light that Sir Keir Starmer and Shabana Mahmood, both prominent MPs in the UK, represent constituencies with some of the highest crime rates in England and Wales. This raises a lot of questions about how politicians in areas plagued by crime are addressing the issue, and whether they’re doing enough to combat it.
To put the numbers in perspective, let’s take a closer look at the details. Birmingham Ladywood, which is the constituency of Shabana Mahmood, comes in as the second-highest in terms of crime rates. In fact, over the past year, a staggering 38,111 crimes have been recorded in this area, which averages out to more than 100 crimes a day. This includes everything from petty theft to more serious offenses, highlighting the breadth of the problem.
But it doesn’t stop there. Sir Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party, represents the Holborn and St Pancras constituency in London, which isn’t far behind in terms of crime. With 36,090 recorded crimes over the past year, this area also sees a significant crime rate—just under 100 crimes per day. It’s no small issue, and it begs the question: how are these high-profile politicians addressing the crime wave in their own backyards?
Now, when we look at the overall crime data, the Cities of London and Westminster seat stands out with the highest number of offenses. This constituency, which is held by Labour’s Rachel Blake, recorded an eye-watering 89,446 crimes over the course of the year, which translates to nearly 250 offenses a day. These figures paint a clear picture of the magnitude of crime in some of the UK’s most high-profile constituencies.
What’s even more concerning is the breakdown of the types of crimes taking place in these areas. Birmingham Ladywood has the highest number of violence and sexual offenses, with a reported 13,608 incidents. Vehicle crime also runs high here, with 3,403 reported cases. This reflects a growing trend of public safety concerns in the area, as residents and business owners alike are becoming increasingly worried about their security.
On the other hand, Sir Keir’s constituency, Holborn and St Pancras, holds the second-highest number of thefts from people, with 7,309 incidents. Other types of theft also rank high in this area, including a reported 6,169 cases of general theft and 1,315 robberies. This paints a clear picture of how theft and personal crime are impacting local communities.
But it doesn’t stop there. In London and Westminster, crime is even more rampant, with the area topping the charts in a variety of crime categories. This includes burglary (with 2,367 incidents), robbery (3,244), public order offenses (3,939), and shoplifting (6,249). It’s also worth noting that anti-social behavior in this area is through the roof, with 9,549 reported cases. Theft from the person in London and Westminster is staggering, with a whopping 25,334 incidents. And the total number of other thefts recorded here stands at 19,151. These are not just numbers; they represent real people who are feeling the impact of a broken criminal justice system.
These figures aren’t just statistics—they reflect a worrying trend in the UK’s criminal landscape. Dr. Lawrence Newport, a legal academic working with CrimeSpotlight UK, emphasized the urgency of this issue by saying, “It is clear that our politicians are aware of the spread of crime on our streets – they are surrounded by it – so we need them to actually act on it.” This is a key point that cannot be overlooked. Politicians in these areas, who are directly affected by high crime rates, need to prioritize real action and take the necessary steps to reduce crime and restore safety to their communities.
Dr. Newport also highlighted the sharp increase in phone thefts, shoplifting, and robberies across Britain, many of which are committed by a small group of career criminals. These criminals are undeterred by the law, largely because of the growing sense of impunity—thanks in part to the falling rate of charges and convictions. The stats paint a grim picture: the number of crimes being solved has plummeted. In 2014/15, around 15.5% of offenses resulted in charges. Fast forward to 2024, and that number has dropped to just 6.7%. This means fewer criminals are facing justice, and more people are becoming victims of crime.
Even with the overall decline in recorded crime—at least in some areas—there’s a concerning rise in certain types of offenses. Sexual offenses, including rape, have seen a sharp increase, as has knife crime, which is approaching record levels. Fraud and shoplifting are also reaching historic highs. These are all serious issues that demand immediate attention.
One contributing factor to this crisis is the decline in neighborhood policing since the early 2010s. Experts argue that the lack of local, visible police presence has made it easier for criminals to operate with less fear of being caught. With fewer officers patrolling the streets, it’s no surprise that crime has surged in some areas. While police forces have become more focused on investigating complex, long-term cases—especially those involving digital evidence—this has left many routine crimes under-prioritized.
In response to these growing concerns, the government has recruited an additional 20,000 police officers over the past three years and has pledged to bring on another 13,000 officers, PCSOs, and special constables. While this is a positive step, no specific timeline has been set for reaching these goals. And with the increasing sophistication of crimes, particularly those involving digital evidence, it’s unclear whether more officers will be enough to stem the rising tide of criminal activity.
A government spokesperson has made it clear that the UK government is committed to “turning the tide on crime” and delivering on its mission to make streets safer. But given the scale of the problem, it remains to be seen whether these efforts will be enough to make a real difference. With crime rates continuing to rise in some of the most high-profile constituencies, it’s clear that bold action is needed. The question is: will the politicians who represent these constituencies rise to the challenge and address the crime epidemic that is impacting their own communities? Only time will tell.
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