Shocking new figures have revealed the extent of London‘s gang problem, with more people killed as a result of gang violence than robbery, drug crime and domestic abuse combined.
Researchers analysed 147 murder and manslaughter convictions that were brought before the capital’s courts between January 2023 to December 2024 and found that over a third were committed by either gangs or groups of three or more.
It is the largest category of perpetrators by over 15 per cent, with domestic abuse and family-related violence the second most common type of killing making up 18 per cent of cases.
Non-gang related confrontations and revenge attacks comprised of 14 per cent of figures, with drugs, robbery, burglary and fraud equating to roughly 8 per cent each.
Mental health was also only a factor in 5 per cent of cases analysed.
Violent gang crime in the nation’s capital has been steadily increasing for a number of years, with these new figures further emphasising its violent nature.
In 2023, the Office of National Statistics (ONS) revealed that there had been an alarming 20 per cent jump in gun crime in London, with 1,208 offences recorded.
A mirroring in prevalence of knife-related crime was also seen, with a 20 per cent rise or 14,577 cases reported to police in the same year.
Met Police also recorded an increase in homicides on the previous year, with 110 reported across the greater London area in 2023.
Knife and gang crime has rose simultaneously in London over recent years
Shocking new figures have revealed the extent of London ‘s gang problem, with more people killed as a result of gang violence than robbery, drug crime and domestic abuse combined
Met Police recorded an increase in homicides in 2023 compared to the previous year, with 110 reported across the greater London area
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There have been a number of high profile gang cases in recent years which have garnered a great deal of media attention.
Last year saw the clearing of Sergeant Martyn Blake who had been charged with shooting dead gangster Chris Kaba in 2022.
Kaba had been involved with the Brixton Hill-based 67 group, who had links to 11 shootings over just a matter of months.
In November 2024, tragedy struck when gang violence saw the shooting of an innocent eight-year-old girl in the capital’s Ladbroke Grove area.
32-year-old Jazz Reid was arrested on two counts of attempted murder with the young girl’s father also struck by a bullet after Reid fired into their parked SUV.
The killers of teenager Abubakarr Jah were also brought to justice last year after he was fatally shot in 2021 during a gang ‘rideout’ in Newham.
Jah’s brother had been stabbed to death near the same location just four years previously.
Earlier this year, the MailOnline exclusively reported on the gang war which had gripped a south London borough.
Chris Kaba in a drill rap video where he appears to pretend to fire a gun
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Kelyan Bokassa (pictured) was stabbed in front of horrified passengers on a route 472 bus in Woolwich
Kelyan’s death came less than four months after the murder of another teenager – Daejaun Campbell, 15 (pictured) – who was also fatally stabbed in Woolwich in September last year
14-year-old Kelyan Bokassa was knifed 12 times back in January as he sat on the 472 bus passing through Woolwich.
Terrified witnesses told of seeing two baby-faced young men sprinting from the atrocity, one armed with a machete ‘as long as your forearm’.
Just a number of months previously, Kelyan had lost his close friend Dejaun Campbell who was stabbed to death along Eglington Road.
Reacting to the concerning gang crime data, Scotland Yard Commander Paul Brogden said: ‘Every murder is a tragedy and we continue to dedicate a large amount of our resources to tackling the main causes of violent crime, such as drug dealing and anti-social behaviour, while also taking weapons off the streets and having a visible presence in areas with higher levels of crime.
‘Teenage homicides are a genuine concern which can have a lasting impact on the community.
‘The Met is committed to tackling violent crime particularly when it stems from gang culture. This remains a top priority.
‘This isn’t something we can do alone and we will continue to work with partners and community leaders to tackle violence and make the streets of London safer for everyone.’
