“We Deter Thieves”: London Mayor Takes Credit for Crime Drop as Residents Claim Otherwise
Crime data in London shows a sharp decline in property crimes in tourist centers, but a fierce battle of narratives is unfolding: while Mayor Sadiq Khan denies the contribution of “pickpocket hunters” and urges against vigilantism, local activists point to dozens of arrests and highlight legal failures that allow criminals to return to the streets.
A significant drama is stirring the streets of London these days, moving along the axis between official police crime statistics and what is actually happening in the city's busy alleys. It started when the Mayor, Sadiq Khan, proudly presented data showing a 14% decrease in property crimes and burglaries in the capital over the past year, including a meteoric drop of more than a third in crime incidents in the tourist-heavy Westminster district (where the Parliament, Soho area, and Leicester Square are located).
However, in his remarks, Khan chose to attack the phenomenon of civilian patrols head-on and clarified that people acting independently on the streets have no role in reducing crime rates. “I think it's important to be an active bystander, as long as you don't put yourself in danger,” the Mayor explained his position. “I don't think we should have groups of citizens taking the law into their own hands and walking around the city.”
The one who did not remain silent upon hearing these words is Diego Galdino, the most famous pickpocket hunter in London. Galdino, who became an internet phenomenon with hundreds of thousands of followers and even quit his job as a courier to focus on chasing thieves, is always armed with a can of red spray paint that has become his trademark.
“Victims come to us, we find the pickpocket, and we pass all the details to the police,” Galdino recounts his working method. “Since I started two years ago, I have noticed a dramatic difference.” According to him, his activity led to the arrest of about 25 suspects and the deportation of two of them from the country, while in most cases, pickpockets in the shopping areas of Westminster simply run away as soon as they spot him on the street.
Galdino expressed disappointment with Khan's words but clarified that he is not surprised: “I know the Mayor will never want to acknowledge citizens taking the law into their own hands, and that's fine, because I know we had a good impact and I wish him all the best.”
Despite the dispute over credit, there is one thing the pickpocket hunter and the Mayor actually agree on completely: the deep frustration with the British judicial system, which releases criminals back to the streets within a short time. “When they give their name and address to the police, I tell the officers that they are providing fake names, but they don't really listen,” claims Galdino. The meaning is that they evade appearing for court hearings, as well as being released from custody after only a few hours.
Mayor Khan admitted that he is also frustrated by the backlog and the quick releases: “I am frustrated when I talk to victims who tell me they were told it would take three years until the trial takes place. I am frustrated when the police work very hard to arrest someone, and he is released the next day because of a judge's decision.”
On the other hand, at the Metropolitan Police headquarters, they prefer to focus on the positive numbers and technology. Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley noted that “neighborhood policing is the foundation of what we do,” and emphasized the combination of increased foot patrols and the use of real-time facial recognition technology. In addition, serious crime data shows that in 2025, only 97 murders were recorded in London, the lowest figure since 2014, placing the British capital in a better and more protected position than Paris, Berlin, or New York.
This debate is taking place while a wider online storm is raging over the city's image. Khan sharply attacked what he calls the “rage economy” on social media, and accused bot farms from Russia and China, as well as influencers from the USA, of attempting to portray London as a dangerous city mired in chaos. “Why are they doing this? Because we are liberal, progressive, multicultural, and exceptionally successful,” claimed Khan.
And what do the tourists and residents on the ground say? The feelings are mixed. Alongside the familiar fear of quick phone thefts, many still feel quite safe. Julian Sweeten, a 21-year-old American student studying in the city, concluded that London feels much safer than the USA, and she is happy to discover that her initial concerns regarding her personal safety have so far proven to be unfounded.
