Murders at lowest for 30 years, but gun and knife crimes rise in capital

Gun crime in the capital has risen sharply in the last year, official figures reveal today.

There were 429 more offences than the year before -a rise of 14.1 per cent - according to the Met.

Knife crime has also risen in London, with 266 more crimes in the last financial year, taking the annual tally to 12,611. But the figures reveal that the number of murders has fallen to its lowest level in more than 30 years.

A total of 117 killings took place in the capital in the year to the end of March - almost 25 per cent down on the 155 fatal attacks during the previous 12 month period.

The total is the lowest annual figure since 1978, when there were 106 murders. It is also nearly half the total recorded just six years ago, in the year 200¾, when there were 205 murders across London.

There were also increases in robbery, domestic burglary and serious youth violence last year, although "most serious violence" involving offenders of all ages and assaults causing injury fell.

Overall recorded crime in London, which has fallen repeatedly in recent years, was down again with a total of 828,752 offences in the capital, more than 16,000 fewer than the year before.