The City of London Police has been commended for its significant achievements in crime reduction and its leading role in combating fraud and economic crime across the UK. An annual report presented to the Court of Common Council on Thursday, 10 September 2026, highlighted a notable decrease in crime within the City, with overall crime falling by 4.9%. Theft offences saw a reduction of 9.4%, and violence decreased by 5.7%.
Several initiatives contributed to this overall crime reduction. Hotspot policing in areas like Bishopsgate led to a 23% decrease in serious crime, while targeted patrols and operations, recognised by the British Retail Consortium, tackled retail crime and shoplifting. A 40% reduction in phone snatching was achieved through increased intelligence-led patrols and targeted operations. The City Safe Bus
initiative was introduced to combat anti-social behaviour and prevent crime around busy areas, and a new Victims Services Team was established to strengthen a victim-centred approach.
The report also detailed the City Police's success in tackling fraud and cybercrime, areas where it holds a leading role nationally. The force has been instrumental in the UK's response, including the successful launch of the Report Fraud
service, which aims to make it easier for victims to report incidents and for law enforcement to act more swiftly. The service has seen call waiting times reduced from seven minutes to one minute, and answered 11,000 more calls in its first three months compared to the previous year. The Report Fraud Victim Service (RFVS) has supported its one millionth victim, and since January 2026, victims are automatically referred for support, leading to a 32% increase in weekly referrals. The City Police's Economic and Cyber Crime Academy has trained over 800 professionals nationally in areas including money laundering, bribery, and corruption.
Beyond general reporting, the City of London Police are focusing on a range of fraud, economic crime, and cyber crime. This includes tackling phone snatching, retail crime, shoplifting, and illegal e-bikes, with the Cycle Team significantly outperforming neighbouring forces in seizing illegal e-bikes. The force's Domestic Corruption Unit is also active in relation to the Government's Anti-Corruption Strategy.
Independent inspections have graded the force as Outstanding
for crime recording and Good
for response and investigation, placing it among the top-performing police services in England and Wales. No police force in the country has a larger role in tackling fraud than the City of London Police. The force's positive outcomes for victim-based crimes are well above the national average, and response times for immediate incidents remain among the fastest in the country.
The City of London Police's efforts in maintaining the City's reputation as the safest financial centre in the world were also highlighted. Looking ahead, the force is preparing to address the evolving threat landscape, including the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on crime and the need for strong governance around its use. The force also remains committed to tackling violence against women and girls and protecting the City from terrorism.
Further details on the report can be found in the Public reports pack presented to the Court of Common Council. The Agenda frontsheet for the meeting is also available.