Police officers in London are under pressure like never before. They’ve been told they will now need licences to do their jobs, while facing criminals who are reportedly “outsmarting” them. With rising crime, fewer officers, and shrinking resources, the frontline is stretched to breaking point. Here are the facts that show just how serious the situation has become.
Could this be why criminals are ‘outsmarting’ police?
Population Pressure
- London’s population reached around 9.09 million by mid-2024, the highest on record.
- Over the past decade, London grew by over 600,000 people — a 7.7% increase.
- Projections suggest 9.5 million by 2032 and near 10 million within the next decade.
Police Staffing
- The Metropolitan Police has lost approximately 6,000 officers over the last five years.
- Current police strength is around 32,200 officers, compared with over 37,000 in 2016.
Police Station Closures
- London now has 36 public police front counters open.
- In 2007, there were 154 front counters — a reduction of 118 public-facing stations since 2008.
- Between 2008 and 2024, a total of 130 front counter locations have been closed.
- Of these closures, 92 sites are no longer part of the Metropolitan Police estate and the buildings have been disposed of.
- Closure proposals in 2025 aimed to reduce front counters from 37 to 27, reflecting ongoing strategic and budget pressures.
Emergency Calls and Workload
- Calls to 999 and 101 have increased sharply, totaling over 30 million per year.
- Only 15% of 999 calls require an immediate police response, highlighting the operational demand.
- Anti-social behaviour (ASB) calls in London rose 22.6% in the year ending April 2025.
Crime and Violence
- Recorded violent crime in London has increased by roughly 30% over the last five to seven years, from 193,000 in 2016/17 to 253,000 in 2023/24.
Key Takeaways
- London’s growing population places extra demand on policing.
- Falling officer numbers and police station closures increase pressure on the remaining workforce.
- Emergency call volumes are rising sharply, stretching response capabilities.
- Violent crime has increased overall, though some serious offences are decreasing.
- The data paints a picture of a service under strain, working with fewer resources and more demand than ever before.
Here is a quote taken from social media, from a mother whose daughter is a police response officer.
“My daughter works response. They are short handed, poorly equipped, poorly managed and have to be the last resort for the failure of many other agencies.”
Could this be the reason why they are being outsmarted?
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