Crime Rate in Merton: Trends, Hotspots

Overview of Crime in Merton

The total recorded crimes in Merton, Merton in January 2025 are around 1,341 as per the recent police data. This equates to a Merton crime rate of 6.23 per 1,000 population.

It's important to note that this crime data is based on the Geographic Boundry data provided by the ONS around Merton, encompassing approximately 215,187 residents.

Most occured crime Types

The most prevalent crimes in the area during Jan were:

  • Violence and sexual offences: (346) incidents (-6.74% decrease)
  • Anti-social behaviour: (242) incidents (-7.98% decrease)
  • Shoplifting: (145) incidents (55.91% increase)
Merton Crime Hotspots

The surrounding areas of below locations have emerged as crime hotspots,

  • Park Avenue Mews with total crimes: 42
  • Supermarket with total crimes: 33
  • Supermarket with total crimes: 16

Merton Police Info:

Metropolitan Police Service

How safe is Merton?

To understand the safety of Merton, we need to analyze Merton crime statistics in relation to both national and regional averages. This report will examine the available data and provide a balanced assessment.

  • Relative to the UK:

    • Merton has recorded 9,994 crimes in the current year, resulting in a crime rate of 46.44 per 1,000 residents. This places it at rank 317 out of 331 in the UK, indicating it is safer than average.

    • Yearly trends show that in the previous year, the city recorded 17,989 crimes with a crime rate of 83.60, ranking it 189 in the UK. This a decrease in crime suggests Positive changes.

  • Relative to Outer London:

    • In 2024, Merton demonstrated a lower crime volume than the Outer London average, with 9994 crimes compared to 16705.0. This suggests a relatively safer position within the region for the year. Furthermore, Merton witnessed more crimes than 15 out of 18 other cities.

    • In 2023, Merton had fewer crimes than the Outer London average, with 17,989 crimes compared to 28,746. This reflects a relatively lower crime rate for the city within the region that year. Furthermore, Merton witnessed more crimes than 15 out of 18 other cities.

  • Overall Assessment:

    • Based on the available data, Merton is considered safer compared to the national averages.

    • Compared to other cities in Outer London, Merton has a lower crime rate in 2024.

    • The trend in crime rates suggests Positive changes in overall safety.

Merton Crime Analysis: Ward & Area

The difference in crime rates between the most dangerous ward, Wimbledon Town & Dundonald (135 crimes), and the safest, Cannon Hill (22 crimes), is 113 crimes. This measurable difference indicates a some disparity in safety across Merton.

Similarly, the area of Colliers Wood (110 crimes) reports a significantly higher crime count compared to Cannon Hill (18 crimes), with a difference of 92 crimes. This measurable difference highlights the diverse crime landscape within Merton.

Most Dangerous Wards:

Wimbledon Town & Dundonald135
Colliers Wood116
Cricket Green109
Graveney106
Lavender Fields85

Safest Wards:

Pollards Hill48
Hillside43
Lower Morden33
Wandle30
Cannon Hill22

Most Dangerous Areas:

Colliers Wood110
Wimbledon Broadway South98
Mitcham West81
Graveney81
Mitcham South77

Safest Areas:

Cottenham Park30
Wimbledon Common26
Merton Park23
Lower Morden22
Cannon Hill18

Merton Crime Statstics

In January 2025 the Merton has recorded 1,341 crimes with crime rate of 6.23 ranking 189th out of 331 in the UK and ranked 16 out 331 in terms of total crimes and 15 in terms of crime rate in Outer London.

In 2024, the total Merton crimes were 9,994. The crime rate of Merton in 2024 was 46.44 (year) or 3.87 (month) ranking it 317 danzarous in the UK. Merton ranked 16 in terms of total crimes and 16 in terms of crime rate in Outer London.

In 2023, the total crimes in Merton were around 17,989 crimes with yearly crime rate of 83.60 (year) or 6.97 (month) ranking 189 out 331 most dangerous city in the UK. As compared to neighboring cities in Outer London, Merton ranked 16 out 331 in terms of total crimes or 15 as per crime rate of Merton

CityJanuary 202520242023
CrimesRank (Outer London)CrimesRank (Outer London)CrimesRank (Outer London)
Harrow1,610 1712,311 1519,636 19
Sutton1,169 198,988 1915,828 18
Richmond upon Thames1,092 188,641 1815,748 17
Bexley1,524 1611,384 1720,257 16
Bromley2,365 1216,680 1328,760 14
Kingston upon Thames1,201 138,165 1415,645 12
Havering1,825 1413,869 1125,160 11
Barnet2,831 1120,339 1236,190 13
Redbridge2,318 1016,685 1029,930 10
Barking and Dagenham1,821 813,850 924,133 9
Waltham Forest2,304 918,043 730,955 8
Hounslow2,410 718,366 832,912 4
Croydon3,790 327,293 343,781 7
Ealing3,403 523,905 641,271 6
Greenwich2,570 619,510 432,543 5
Enfield3,112 422,077 538,814 3
Hillingdon3,184 122,638 136,086 2
Brent3,409 224,651 240,527 1

Merton Crime Map

Detailed Crime Data Analysis

Monthly Trends

During January 2025, The highest incident rate was for Violence and sexual offences (346 reports) and Anti-social behaviour incidents were also notably high (242 cases).

December 2024 crime data shows Violence and sexual offences saw the largest number of reported crimes with 371 incidents, and Anti-social behaviour was another prevalent crime category with 263 incidents.

During November 2024, The highest incident rate was for Violence and sexual offences (341 reports) and Anti-social behaviour incidents were also notably high (262 cases).

In October 2024, Violence and sexual offences dominated crime reports (345 incidents), followed by Anti-social behaviour also remained a significant concern (322 incidents).

Recorded incidents of Violence and sexual offences were the most frequent (378 incidents) were the most common in September 2024, with There was a large number of incidents involving Anti-social behaviour (309 incidents) also being high.

For August 2024 , the most reported crimes were Most crimes reported were Anti-social behaviour (388 incidents) and then Violence and sexual offences showed a substantial number of incidents (341 incidents).

July 2024 crime data shows Other theft saw the largest number of reported crimes with 7 incidents, and Public order was another prevalent crime category with 6 incidents.

Crime TypeCountCrime RateChange

Crime by Type

A total of 100 Other crime incidents were recorded over 7 month period, averaging 16.67 incidents per month. January 2025 saw the highest number of Other crime incidents with 22 reported cases.

MonthCount
January 202522
December 202420
November 202417
October 202414
September 202415
August 202412

A total of 2128 Violence and sexual offences incidents were recorded over 7 month period, averaging 304.00 incidents per month. September 2024 saw the highest number of Violence and sexual offences incidents with 378 reported cases.

MonthCount
January 2025346
December 2024371
November 2024341
October 2024345
September 2024378
August 2024341
July 20246

A total of 211 Theft from the person incidents were recorded over 7 month period, averaging 30.14 incidents per month. November 2024 saw the highest number of Theft from the person incidents with 54 reported cases.

MonthCount
January 202530
December 202441
November 202454
October 202425
September 202440
August 202418
July 20243

A total of 472 Burglary incidents were recorded over 7 month period, averaging 78.67 incidents per month. December 2024 saw the highest number of Burglary incidents with 85 reported cases.

MonthCount
January 202579
December 202485
November 202485
October 202468
September 202470
August 202485

A total of 170 Robbery incidents were recorded over 7 month period, averaging 28.33 incidents per month. December 2024 saw the highest number of Robbery incidents with 38 reported cases.

MonthCount
January 202528
December 202438
November 202429
October 202422
September 202425
August 202428

A total of 337 Drugs incidents were recorded over 7 month period, averaging 56.17 incidents per month. November 2024 saw the highest number of Drugs incidents with 72 reported cases.

MonthCount
January 202561
December 202461
November 202472
October 202454
September 202459
August 202430

A total of 483 Public order incidents were recorded over 7 month period, averaging 69.00 incidents per month. October 2024 saw the highest number of Public order incidents with 105 reported cases.

MonthCount
January 202570
December 202488
November 202472
October 2024105
September 202472
August 202470
July 20246

A total of 1786 Anti-social behaviour incidents were recorded over 7 month period, averaging 297.67 incidents per month. August 2024 saw the highest number of Anti-social behaviour incidents with 388 reported cases.

MonthCount
January 2025242
December 2024263
November 2024262
October 2024322
September 2024309
August 2024388

A total of 31 Possession of weapons incidents were recorded over 7 month period, averaging 5.17 incidents per month. September 2024 saw the highest number of Possession of weapons incidents with 9 reported cases.

MonthCount
January 20258
December 20241
November 20245
October 20247
September 20249
August 20241

A total of 91 Bicycle theft incidents were recorded over 7 month period, averaging 15.17 incidents per month. September 2024 saw the highest number of Bicycle theft incidents with 21 reported cases.

MonthCount
January 202511
December 202417
November 202411
October 202420
September 202421
August 202411

A total of 479 Criminal damage and arson incidents were recorded over 7 month period, averaging 68.43 incidents per month. October 2024 saw the highest number of Criminal damage and arson incidents with 98 reported cases.

MonthCount
January 202575
December 202473
November 202493
October 202498
September 202474
August 202465
July 20241

A total of 679 Vehicle crime incidents were recorded over 7 month period, averaging 113.17 incidents per month. September 2024 saw the highest number of Vehicle crime incidents with 162 reported cases.

MonthCount
January 2025114
December 202481
November 2024120
October 2024159
September 2024162
August 202443

A total of 583 Other theft incidents were recorded over 7 month period, averaging 83.29 incidents per month. September 2024 saw the highest number of Other theft incidents with 121 reported cases.

MonthCount
January 2025110
December 2024104
November 2024101
October 202499
September 2024121
August 202441
July 20247

A total of 866 Shoplifting incidents were recorded over 7 month period, averaging 144.33 incidents per month. November 2024 saw the highest number of Shoplifting incidents with 220 reported cases.

MonthCount
January 2025145
December 202493
November 2024220
October 2024208
September 2024160
August 202440

High Crime Locations Merton in January 2025

A detailed breakdown of crime incidents by location within the Merton postcode area is presented below.

1. Park Avenue Mews (Map)
Total42
Shoplifting18
Violence and sexual offences12
Vehicle crime3
Public order3
Criminal damage and arson3
Burglary3
2. Supermarket (Map)
Total33
Shoplifting26
Public order6
Theft from the person1
3. Supermarket (Map)
Total16
Shoplifting8
Anti-social behaviour4
Violence and sexual offences3
Robbery1
4. Supermarket (Map)
Total11
Shoplifting9
Robbery2
5. Brickfield Road (Map)
Total10
Shoplifting7
Vehicle crime3
6. Supermarket (Map)
Total10
Shoplifting9
Theft from the person1

  • Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2021. This data is licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  • Contains Office for National Statistics data licensed under the Open Government Licence v.3.0
  • Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.