Above Brixton: rated by Londoners as the second most dangerous borough in the city … after Westminster<\/p>\n
The Russian Embassy in London has warned tourists visiting the UK capital of a spike in criminal activity in the city. The increase is attributed to ongoing economic challenges and the migration crisis, the embassy has said.<\/p>\n
The British capital has seen a steady increase in the crime rate since the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions were lifted, data tracked by local police shows. The number of crimes in the category of \u2018theft\u2019 alone surged nearly 40% in three years through the end of 2024.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith the ongoing \u2018cost of living crisis\u2019 and a massive influx of migrants… the UK is being challenged with a surge in street crimes, from theft of personal property to knife and acid attacks which have become more frequent in recent years,\u201d<\/em> the Russian Embassy said<\/a> in a statement released on Friday.<\/p>\n The mission warned that attacks of this kind could \u201cresult in serious injury and, in some cases, lead to fatal outcomes,\u201d<\/em> adding that most cases of cell phone theft are commonly recorded in tourist areas in central London.<\/p>\n According to the Metropolitan Police Service\u2019s Crime Dashboard, the number of thefts in the capital has been on the rise across all 32 boroughs. Last year, the police registered a total of 330,989 thefts, compared to 282,074 and 242,698 in 2023 and 2022, respectively.<\/p>\n Britain has faced growing pressure on living standards in recent years. Amid a historic decline in quality of life, the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) said earlier this week that the \u201cUnited Kingdom is not a high-wage nor a high-welfare country, leaving millions trapped between low wages and inadequate support.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n The UK has also been struggling with illegal migration for years, with successive prime ministers pledging to take action to address the problem. A study conducted by private utility firm Thames Water found that more than half of illegal migrants entering the country are living in the capital.<\/p>\n