The borough was listed as the second most dangerous area by the UK’s leading security training provider.
Islington is the second least safe area in the UK, according to the latest data from Get Licensed, a security training provider.
The report found that rates of theft and robbery in the area were “three times higher than the national average,” and criminal activity had increased by 8 per cent compared to last year.
The findings were consistent with Metropolitan Police crime maps for Islington’s 17 wards which suggest criminal activity, including anti-social behaviour (ASB) and violent and sexual offences, is on the rise.
Of the 17 wards, only three – Clerkenwell, Hillrise and St Mary’s and St James’ – have seen a consistent fall in criminal activity between 2024 and 2026.
Eight wards have witnessed an increase in overall crime, nine saw a rise in ASB, and nine reported increased violent and sexual offences since 2024.
Islington Council has tried to tackle rising crime rates by installing knife surrender bins across the borough, in partnership with the charity Word4Weapons.
It has also expanded its Safe Havens scheme, increasing the number of designated spaces where individuals who feel threatened can go to seek help.
According to the latest council report, the number of Safe Havens has risen from 75 to 300 since 2021.
However, many Islington residents feel the council is not doing enough.
Jeremy Cox, of Tufnell Park, said: “Real crime is not on the council or police agenda”.
Similarly, local resident Barbara Ferguson said that while she often feels unsafe around Finsbury Park Station, she doesn’t think community safety is the council’s priority.
With the 7 May local elections approaching, Barbara said the Council will “try to do something to look good.”
Some residents argued that the lack of street lighting and quieter streets as a result of Islington’s Low Traffic Neighbourhoods scheme has made them feel unsafe.
George Hills from St Mary’s and St James’, said: “I’m not saying LTN’s aren’t a good thing, but it has definitely changed my behaviour pattern.”
He added: “The council refuse to lock squares and parks at night, which feeds antisocial behaviour, [making them] no-go zones for women.”
Some residents were less critical. Brenda Williams from Tufnell Park said: “All areas have crime, but it doesn’t mean to say the whole borough is bad.”
Highbury resident Christine Drummond said: “There are always ‘hotspots’ to avoid in the dark, like Finsbury Park Station, but I don’t think it’s worse than any other big city borough.”
Islington Council work closely with Islington Police. Every ASB case is reported to both council and police, and there are 16 Safer Neighbourhood Teams across Islington, consisting of Sergeants, Constables and PCSOs dedicated to local policing and community safety.
A constable in Caledonian Ward’s Safer Neighbourhood Team said he disagreed with the findings of the Get Licensed City Safety Index.
He said Islington is “one of the safest boroughs in London” and “we’ve got a really good community safety team within the council, and good leadership within Islington police”.
He commended the borough’s cross-agency collaboration in addressing the “underlying” causes of ASB.
Caledonian Ward has seen a 145 per cent increase in ASB reports between January 2025 and January 2026, rising from 29 reports to 71.
Despite the increased council and police focus on safety initiatives in the borough, many locals feel more can be done.
Livvie E from Tufnell Park said: “Judging by the number of daily NextDoor safety alerts, crime reports and pretty scary video doorbell footage of criminals trying to breach boundary walls or jump fences to steal parcels and force entry through doors — we are indeed living in a crime borough.”
Councillor Angelo Weekes, Islington Council’s Executive Member for Community Safety, was contacted for comment.
Isabella Steinmeyer is a Newspaper Journalism MA student at City St George's University. She was previously Deputy Editor of Varsity, Cambridge's student newspaper.