London Gun Crime Hotspots Revealed as Police Investigate Clapham Shooting

Key Points

• According to the Metropolitan Police data, there were 1,679 gun-related offences in all across London between August 2025 and July 2026.
• This is a decrease from 1,918 offences over the previous 12-month period, but an increase from 1,492 and 1,624 offences over the 2 years.
• Enfield and Brent had the largest number of gun crimes in the last year (110 and 108 respectively).
• Lambeth, which is where Monday’s shooting occurred, is the third highest with 88 gun-related offences.
• Lambeth also had the highest level of “lethal barrel discharges” (LBDs) out of any borough, with 13.
• The biggest number of gun-related personal robberies were recorded in Westminster, with 17 recorded.
• A 25-year-old man was fatally shot at Willington Road, Clapham on Monday evening.
• A 22-year-old man is in hospital, but under arrest for murder.
• The highest number of gun crimes was reported in the south-west London boroughs of Richmond, Kingston and Merton, whereas the lowest were in the boroughs of Bexley, Croydon, Harrow and Lambton Shores.
• Detectives are calling for witnesses to come forward and for information to be shared with them.

London (Britain Today News) August 12, 2026 – Crime data published by the Metropolitan Police has shed light on which parts of the capital are experiencing the highest levels of gun crime, as detectives continue to investigate a fatal shooting in Clapham that claimed the life of a 25-year-old man on Monday evening. The figures, drawn from the Met’s monthly crime statistics, arrive at a moment when public attention in south London has turned sharply towards gun-related violence following the incident on Willington Road, close to the Landor pub.

What Do the Latest Met Police Crime Statistics Reveal About Gun Crime in London?

According to the data, a total of 1,679 gun-related offences were recorded by Metropolitan Police officers across London between August 2025 and July 2026. This marks a decrease from the 1,918 offences logged in the preceding twelve-month period, suggesting a downward trend over the past year. However, the figure remains notably higher than the 1,492 offences recorded between August 2022 and July 2023, and the 1,624 offences recorded between August 2023 and July 2024. Taken together, the statistics point to a picture of gun crime that, while easing slightly from its most recent peak, still sits above the levels seen three and four years ago.

Of the 1,679 total offences logged in the most recent period, 213 were recorded as being connected to a robbery, while 108 involved what the Met classifies as a “lethal barrel discharge”, or LBD – meaning a firearm was actually discharged during the incident. These categories offer a more granular sense of how gun crime is manifesting across the capital, distinguishing between offences where a firearm was present or used as a threat, and those where a weapon was actually fired.

Which London Boroughs Have the Highest Rates of Gun Crime?

The borough-level breakdown shows Enfield and Brent recording the highest numbers of gun crime in the twelve months to July 2026, with 110 and 108 offences respectively. These two north and north-west London boroughs have consistently featured near the top of such rankings in recent years, and the latest figures confirm that trend continues.

Lambeth, the borough where Monday’s fatal shooting occurred, sits in third position overall, with 88 gun-related offences recorded across the twelve months. The borough’s position on the list will likely draw fresh scrutiny in the wake of the Clapham shooting, though the statistics themselves cover the full year rather than being driven solely by this single, high-profile incident.

Southwark, Lewisham and Croydon also feature prominently in the overall figures, a pattern that underlines south London’s position as a particular focus for gun crime across the capital. Taken together with Lambeth’s ranking, this suggests that a cluster of neighbouring south London boroughs are recording some of the highest volumes of gun-related offending in London.

How Does Lambeth Feature in the Latest Gun Crime Figures?

Beyond its overall ranking, Lambeth stands out in one specific category: it recorded more lethal barrel discharges than any other London borough over the past year, with 13 such incidents logged by the Met. An LBD represents one of the more serious classifications of gun crime, as it confirms that a firearm was actually fired rather than simply brandished, carried or used as a threat during an offence. The fact that Lambeth leads London in this category will add further weight to concerns raised locally in the aftermath of Monday’s shooting, in which shots were reportedly fired on a residential street in Clapham.

What Happened During the Fatal Shooting in Clapham?

Emergency services were called to Willington Road in Clapham shortly before 10 pm on Monday following reports of gunshots being fired. Officers attended the scene, where a 25-year-old man was pronounced dead. Shortly after the shooting, a separate man attended hospital with a gunshot wound; he has since been arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the incident.

The shooting took place near the junction of Willington Road and Landor Road, in the immediate vicinity of the Landor pub, an area that would ordinarily be busy with residents and passers-by on a weekday evening. Police have confirmed that a cordon remained in place at the scene on Tuesday as forensic and investigative work continued.

Which London Boroughs Have Seen the Lowest Gun Crime Rates?

In marked contrast to the south London hotspots, several boroughs in the south-west of the capital recorded comparatively low levels of gun crime over the same twelve-month period. Richmond, Kingston and Merton were among the boroughs occupying three of the bottom four spots in the overall rankings, indicating that gun-related offending in London remains geographically uneven, with certain areas experiencing a disproportionately higher burden than others.

This disparity between boroughs is not new, and mirrors patterns identified in previous years’ crime statistics, though the specific rankings shift slightly from year to year depending on local trends, policing operations and, in some cases, isolated but serious incidents such as the one seen in Clapham this week.

Has Anyone Been Arrested Over the Clapham Shooting?

Yes. A 22-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with Monday’s shooting. According to the Metropolitan Police, this arrest followed the man’s own attendance at hospital shortly after the incident, where he was found to be suffering from a gunshot wound. He remains in hospital, and the Met have said they are awaiting a further update on his condition as the investigation progresses.

The precise circumstances linking the arrested man’s injury to the death of the 25-year-old victim have not been detailed publicly, and detectives are continuing to piece together the exact sequence of events that unfolded on Willington Road on Monday night.

What Has the Metropolitan Police Said About the Investigation?

Detective Chief Superintendent Emma Bond, Central South Borough Commander, addressed the shooting directly, acknowledging the impact it is likely to have had on the surrounding community. She said:

“We understand that the incident will cause concern within the local community, and an increased police presence will remain in the area throughout the day as our enquiries continue. Our thoughts remain with the victim’s family for their tragic loss.”

She continued:

“Officers have arrested a man on suspicion of murder, and we are working tirelessly to establish what happened.”

DCS Bond also issued a direct appeal to the public, stating:

“We are asking anyone with information or anyone who may have witnessed the shooting to please contact us as soon as possible and support the ongoing investigation.”

Her comments confirm that police regard the case as a live and active investigation, with officers continuing to gather evidence and speak to witnesses in the local area. The reference to an increased police presence also indicates that reassurance patrols are likely to remain a visible feature of the neighbourhood in the days following the shooting.

How Have Local Residents Reacted to the Shooting?

The shooting appears to have shaken residents in the immediate vicinity of the Landor pub. One resident described hearing three gunshots on Monday evening, and recounted seeing someone run out of the pub shouting for people to call the police. Accounts of this kind from those close to the scene help to build a picture of how quickly the incident unfolded, and the alarm it caused among people in the area at the time.

In the aftermath, floral tributes have been placed near the pub, a visible marker of the local community’s response to the death of the 25-year-old victim. Police remained at the scene on Tuesday, with the cordon still in place near the junction of Willington Road and Landor Road as investigative work continued into a second day.

What Has Happened to the Injured Man Taken to Hospital?

The man who attended hospital with a gunshot wound shortly after the shooting – and who has since been arrested on suspicion of murder – remains under medical care. The Metropolitan Police have stated they are awaiting an update on his condition. No further details regarding the severity of his injuries or his expected recovery have been made public at this stage, and it is understood that his arrest and ongoing treatment will run in parallel as the investigation continues.
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How Can the Public Help Police With Their Enquiries?

The Metropolitan Police have urged anyone who witnessed the incident, or who has any information that could assist the investigation, to come forward as soon as possible. Members of the public can contact police on 101, quoting reference 8379/10AUG. Alternatively, information can be passed on anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Given the location of the shooting, close to a pub on a residential street, officers will be particularly keen to hear from anyone who was in the area on Monday evening around 10 pm, including patrons of the Landor pub, passers-by, or residents with relevant CCTV or doorbell camera footage.

What Does This Mean for Gun Crime Trends Across London?

Taken as a whole, the combination of the newly released Met Police statistics and the fatal shooting in Clapham paints a mixed but concerning picture. While the overall number of gun-related offences across London has fallen year-on-year, from 1,918 to 1,679, the figures remain elevated compared with those recorded two and three years ago. Lambeth’s position among the boroughs with the highest volume of offences – and its status as the borough recording the most lethal barrel discharges – places it firmly among the areas of the capital facing the greatest challenges around gun-related violence.

As the investigation into the Clapham shooting continues, and as officers work to establish the full circumstances behind the 25-year-old victim’s death, the wider statistical picture is likely to remain a point of scrutiny for both residents and policymakers concerned with tackling gun crime in London’s highest-risk boroughs.