St Mary's & St James', Islington: Safety
Safety
Crime in St Mary's and St James' is higher than the London average, but things are improving. The rate for 2026 is tracking noticeably lower than the previous two years.
In 2024 and 2025, the neighbourhood recorded around 219 crimes per 1,000 people, compared to a London average of roughly 205 to 210. So far in 2026, that figure has dropped to around 114 per 1,000 on an annualised basis — closer to the London average and well below neighbouring Laycock and Hoxton East and Shoreditch.
Shoplifting and anti-social behaviour make up most recorded crime, which you'd expect in areas with busy high streets. Burglary and vehicle crime are both relatively low.
Source: police-recorded crime for St Mary's & St James' ward (Metropolitan Police Service, data.police.uk), Jan 2024–Aug 2026; residents from Census 2021. This summary may predate the latest data release; the table below has the current figures.
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Crime rate comparison
Crimes per 1,000 residents, Jan–Dec 2025. St Mary's & St James' ward: Metropolitan Police Service data via data.police.uk; residents from Census 2021. Averages are for all wards in the area over the same months. Planna's safety index uses the latest 12 months instead, so it can differ.
2024
2025
Jan–Aug 2026
St Mary's & St James' ward
Crimes/1,000 residents
218.8
Higher than
UK average (England, Wales & N. Ireland)
98.8
Higher than
London region average
130.2
Neighbouring wards
Lower than
Hoxton East & Shoreditch
390.2
Higher than
Hoxton West
142.4
Higher than
De Beauvoir
125.3
Higher than
Barnsbury
192.8
Higher than
Canonbury
118.6
Higher than
St Peter's & Canalside
186.6
Similar to
Laycock
222.9
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Types of Crime
Share of police-recorded crimes in St Mary's & St James' ward and the London region average, Jan–Dec 2025.
This ward
Regional average
- Shoplifting19%8%
- Violent offences17%24%
- Anti-social behaviour17%21%
- Other theft10%9%
- Theft from the person9%8%
- Public order5%5%
- Vehicle crime5%7%
- Drugs4%5%
- Criminal damage and arson3%5%
- Burglary3%4%
- Robbery3%3%
- Bicycle theft3%1%
- Other crime1%1%
- Possession of weapons<1%<1%
