London, Ontario sits in the middle of Canada’s crime rankings: its Crime Severity Index (CSI) was 66.0 in 2025, below the national figure of 75.0 but above the Ontario average of 57.2. The index rose 8% in 2025, and the police-reported crime rate rose 7% to 5,059 incidents per 100,000 people, which is still about 9% below the Canadian rate of 5,585. For most residents and visitors, London is an ordinary mid-sized Canadian city in terms of risk, with crime that is mostly property-related.
Data: Statistics Canada, police-reported crime statistics for 2025 (released 22 July 2026), Crime Severity Index and incident-based crime tables. Figures are for the London census metropolitan area (CMA) unless stated; London Police Service figures cover the city’s municipal jurisdiction only. Comparisons and percentages that are not in the release are our own arithmetic. Updated 5 October 2026.
Is London safe compared with other Canadian cities?
On the Crime Severity Index, London ranked 23rd of Canada’s 41 metro areas in 2025 (where 1st is the highest), so it falls close to the middle. Its CSI of 66.0 was about 12% below the national 75.0 (our arithmetic). It was, however, higher than most large Ontario metros, including Toronto (55.0), Hamilton (54.8) and Windsor (55.4).
The crime rate tells a similar story. London recorded 32,090 police-reported Criminal Code incidents (excluding traffic) in 2025, a rate of 5,059 per 100,000 residents. That is close to Kitchener–Cambridge–Waterloo (5,083) and Calgary (5,038), and well below the highest-rate metros such as Chilliwack (11,455) or Kamloops (10,949).
| Area (2025) | Crime Severity Index | CSI change vs 2024 | Crime rate per 100,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| London CMA | 66.0 | +8% | 5,059 |
| Kitchener–Cambridge–Waterloo CMA | 66.8 | -9% | 5,083 |
| Windsor CMA | 55.4 | -12% | 4,203 |
| Hamilton CMA | 54.8 | -7% | 4,076 |
| Toronto CMA | 55.0 | -7% | 3,950 |
| Ontario | 57.2 | -6% | 4,296 |
| Canada | 75.0 | -5% | 5,585 |
Is crime in London going up or down?
It went up in 2025, after several years of decline. London’s CSI peaked at 78.57 in 2021, fell to 61.26 in 2024 (its lowest level in the past decade) and then rose to 65.95 in 2025. Over the full ten years the index is essentially unchanged: it was 65.96 in 2015.
The 2025 increase came from both sides of the index. The violent CSI rose from 76.32 to 79.59 (about +4%) and the non-violent CSI from 55.76 to 61.06 (about +9%), by our arithmetic. Nationally, both measures fell.
| Year | London CMA CSI | Canada CSI |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 65.96 | 70.39 |
| 2016 | 68.01 | 72.01 |
| 2017 | 70.90 | 73.60 |
| 2018 | 75.92 | 75.60 |
| 2019 | 75.07 | 79.72 |
| 2020 | 73.76 | 73.92 |
| 2021 | 78.57 | 74.87 |
| 2022 | 74.68 | 78.74 |
| 2023 | 64.80 | 81.27 |
| 2024 | 61.26 | 78.84 |
| 2025 | 65.95 | 75.01 |
One year is not a trend. London’s index has moved up and down by several points before, and a single year’s rise does not reverse the larger fall from 2021 to 2024.
Why is the London Police figure higher than the metro figure?
Statistics Canada publishes two kinds of numbers. The CMA figure (66.0) covers the whole London metro area, including surrounding towns and rural townships. The London Police Service figure covers only the city’s own policing jurisdiction, and its CSI was 73.00 in 2025, up from 65.84 in 2024 (about +11%, our arithmetic). Its violent CSI was 88.82 and non-violent CSI 67.30.
A city core usually scores higher than its wider region because shops, nightlife, hospitals, transit hubs and visitors are concentrated there, while the rate is divided only by the people who live there. Over a longer view, the London Police CSI is still below its 2020 level of 80.05 and its 2021 peak of 87.26.
What kinds of crime are most common in London?
Like everywhere in Canada, most police-reported crime in London is property crime. Comparing 2025 rates per 100,000 people with the national averages:
- Violent crime: 983 per 100,000 (6,238 incidents), about a third below the Canadian rate of 1,443.
- Homicide: 7 victims, a rate of 1.10, below the national 1.61.
- Robbery: 52 per 100,000, close to the national 55.
- Break-ins: 208 per 100,000, below Canada’s 262.
- Vehicle theft: 153 per 100,000, below Canada’s 201.
- Shoplifting ($5,000 or under): 1,032 per 100,000 (6,548 incidents), roughly double the national rate of 502 and up from 946 in 2024.
- Drug violations: 348 per 100,000 (2,205 incidents), up sharply from 71 in 2024.
Two cautions. Shoplifting has been rising across Canada for five years, and much of it is reported by retailers rather than individual victims. Drug-violation counts depend heavily on police enforcement and recording practices, so a jump of this size says more about how offences are being recorded and charged than about personal risk to residents.
Which parts of London record more crime?
Statistics Canada does not publish neighbourhood figures, and we do not rank London’s neighbourhoods. As in most Canadian cities, police-reported incidents tend to cluster where the most people gather: downtown, along busy commercial corridors, around large shopping centres, entertainment areas and transit stops. Higher counts in those places mostly reflect footfall, not the people who live nearby.
A street with a store that reports frequent shoplifting can look “high crime” on a map while posing little risk to someone walking past. Always look at the type of incident, not just the number of dots.
Is London safe to live in or visit?
For day-to-day life, yes, by Canadian standards. London’s violent crime rate is about 32% below the national average (our arithmetic), break-ins and car theft are below average, and the homicide rate is lower than Canada’s. The main pressure points are retail theft and some property crime, which matter more to businesses and car owners than to pedestrians.
Usual city precautions apply: lock your car and keep valuables out of sight, use well-lit routes at night, and stay aware around busy downtown areas late in the evening. Remember that police data only covers reported incidents. Statistics Canada’s victimization survey found that in 2019 only about 29% of victimizations were reported to police.
How do I check crime near a specific address in London?
- Start with the London Police Service. Check the London Police Service’s website for any public crime map, statistics or open data it publishes for the city.
- Use our map. The Canada Crime Map brings official figures together by city so you can compare areas side by side.
- Compare two areas, not one. Look at the address you are considering next to another part of London you know, using the same time period and crime types.
- Read the limits. Maps show reported incidents, often rounded to a block or intersection. They describe events, not people, and they miss crime that is never reported.
Want this on your phone?
Safety App Canada puts official crime data on a live map, plans walking routes that avoid high-risk areas and sends one-tap SOS alerts to the people you trust. Coming soon to Android and iPhone.
London, Ontario crime FAQ
What is the crime rate in London, Ontario?
In 2025 the London CMA recorded 5,059 police-reported Criminal Code incidents (excluding traffic) per 100,000 people, up 7% from 2024 and about 9% below the Canadian rate of 5,585.
Is London more dangerous than Toronto?
On the Crime Severity Index, London (66.0) scored higher than the Toronto CMA (55.0) in 2025, and its crime rate was higher too (5,059 vs 3,950). But London’s violent crime rate (983 per 100,000) was slightly lower than Toronto’s (987), so the gap is mainly in property crime, especially shoplifting.
Did crime in London go up in 2025?
Yes. The CMA’s CSI rose 8% to 66.0 and the London Police Service CSI rose to 73.00 from 65.84. This followed a steady fall from 78.57 in 2021 to 61.26 in 2024.
How many homicides were there in London in 2025?
Statistics Canada recorded 7 homicide victims in the London CMA in 2025, a rate of 1.10 per 100,000, below the national rate of 1.61.
Is London safer than the Canadian average?
Yes, on both main measures. Its CSI (66.0) and crime rate (5,059) are below Canada’s 75.0 and 5,585, although they are above the Ontario averages of 57.2 and 4,296.
Related: Safest cities in Ontario · Most dangerous cities in Ontario · Is Kitchener-Waterloo safe? · Is Windsor safe? · Shoplifting in Canada · The Crime Severity Index explained. Official source: Statistics Canada, The Daily. In an emergency call 911.