CRIMES of rape have rocketed in London by almost a quarter, latest shock figures reveal. Gun crime, burglary and homophobic attacks have also risen, according to latest Met Police crime statistics, but crime overall is the lowest for 10 years

By Mike Brooke

CRIMES of rape have rocketed in London by almost a quarter, latest shock figures released yesterday reveal.

Gun crime, burglary and homophobic attacks have also risen, according to latest Met Police crime statistics.

But London’s crime overall is at its lowest for 10 years, with total offences reported in the last 12 months fewer than any year since 1999.

There were fewer murders for at least a decade, a fall of 25 on the previous 12 months. Youth violence is down by three-and-a-half per cent, while knife crime has fallen by almost eight per cent.

“But we’re not complacent,” said Met Police Commander Maxine de Brunner. “Challenging areas remain, despite reductions in homicide, youth violence and knife crime.”

These areas include rape which increased by 515 offences in 2009, a rise of 24 per cent on the previous year.

Gun crime since last April is more than 12 per cent higher than the same period in 2008, with 280 incidents recorded.

Burglary was up almost six per cent at 3,465, but the year-on-year increase is slowing down compared to 2008 when it soared by 10 per cent.

Homophobic crime rose by 27 per cent, but police put this down to victims more willing to report attacks.

TOWER HAMLETS CRIME

The East End, like the rest of the capital, has seen a rise in crimes of rape, with 79 reported in Tower Hamlets in the last 12 months, 16 more than the previous year. But other sexual crimes fell slightly.

Gun crime, burglary and homophobic attacks have all risen in Tower Hamlets, according to Scotland Yard.

The statistics show 75 gun related’ incidents, compared to just 52 the year before, while there were 19 more homophobic attacks recorded, 75 compared to 56.

East End crime overall dropped marginally, with 1,500 fewer incidents between January and December.

Only 917 robberies were reported, compared to 1,126 in 2008, most of them muggings. Burglaries dropped by 370, with 2,108 recorded.

Best result of all was motor vehicle crime in Tower Hamlets, down almost 1,000, from 2,639 last year compared to 3,616 previously.