How crime and homelessness compares between London and New York
London and New York often compete for the title of finest metropolis on this planet, however lately the main focus has typically been on their issues.
Today the Mail’s US correspondent revealed the stunning tales of Tube employees battling to comprise the rise in shameless law-breaking on the community, describing them as a grisly reminder of the New York Subway’s descent into anarchy within the Nineteen Seventies and 80s.
Over the previous few weeks, there have been stories of a person apparently smoking crack cocaine in a Tube carriage, a member of workers struggling a fractured cranium after being punched within the face by a fare dodger and a passenger stabbed within the neck.
The comparability with New York’s infamous metro system will disturb any Londoner involved about public security in Britain’s capital.
But how do each cities evaluate in terms of broader charges of crime and different severe social points like homelessness? Below, MailOnline examines the proof.
Harry Pitman, 16, turned London’s final murder sufferer of 2023 when he was stabbed and killed on New Year’s Eve on Primrose Hill
Murders, shootings and stabbings
Commentators have continuously drawn comparisons between the homicide charge in London and New York.
In February 2018, 15 individuals have been killed in London in comparison with 14 within the Big Apple – resulting in a wave of headlines. But usually the homicide charge within the UK capital is much decrease than in New York.
London noticed 104 homicides final yr, equal to 12 per million individuals. This in comparison with 386 in New York, equal to 45.4 per million.
Looser gun legal guidelines within the USA are one of many causes for shootings being way more widespread than within the UK.
Overall, 1,150 individuals have been shot in New York over the course of final yr.
While matching figures should not but accessible for London, Met statistics reveal that between January and November there have been 175 recorded incidents of weapons being fired.
London is infamous for its knife crime drawback.
Last yr noticed one other wave of mindless killings together with the homicide of 16-year-old Harry Pitman, who was stabbed to demise on Primrose Hill whereas ready to look at the New Year’s Eve fireworks.
In September, 15-year-old Elianne Andam was stabbed whereas she made her strategy to faculty in Croydon.
New York is infamous for gun crime. In February, a 22-year-old man was shot lifeless in Times Square
Once once more, totally different reporting strategies made it tough to exactly evaluate the size of knife crime in London and New York throughout the entire yr.
However, NYPD statistics present that from January 1 to August 13, 53 died by knife in New York.
This compares to 41 in London over the identical time interval, based on the London Murder Map.
Rough sleeping
Homeless individuals are a typical sight in each cities, with the numbers of individuals sleeping tough rising because the pandemic.
Local leaders in London have described the capital because the ‘epicentre’ of Britain’s homelessness disaster – with excessive rents driving individuals onto the streets.
Councillor Darren Rodwell, the Leader of Barking and Dagenham borough, stated: ‘The scenario is more and more unmanageable and requires pressing authorities motion. We can not proceed on this disastrous path.’
Rough sleepers lay of their makeshift beds exterior outlets on Oxford Street at dawn in August
The challenge rose to public prominence in December when a person sleeping exterior a McDonald’s was soaked in soiled water by a safety guard attempting to maneuver him on.
Shocking video uploaded to social media exhibits the guard – who was later sacked – splashing water over the bottom with a mop subsequent to the place 25-year-old Aaron McCarthy was sitting.
Similarly, homelessness in New York has been described as a ‘huge humanitarian disaster’.
Despite New York Mayor Eric Adams’ efforts to handle homelessness the variety of people dwelling on the streets has elevated by practically 18 % in a yr
This was regardless of Mayor Eric Adams administration’s pursuing aggressive measures to deal with the issue together with enforcement, sweeps, and outreach initiatives.
The drawback in NYC has been exacerbated by the arrival of 100,000 migrants over the previous yr, loading stress onto town’s shelter system.
Crime on public transport
Crime on the London Underground has skyrocketed by 56 per cent in a yr fuelled by a stunning rise in theft and robberies, worrying figures have revealed.
The variety of crimes between April and September this yr on the underground was 10,836, in contrast with 6,924 in the identical interval in 2022.
This included an increase within the variety of thefts recorded from 2,935 in 2022 to five,378 this yr.
Ricky Morgan, 35, slashed and stabbed passenger James Porritt throughout an unprovoked assault on the Tube in July 2021. He was jailed for no less than 16 years
Meanwhile the variety of robberies soared from 164 to 340. Offensive weapon offences recorded went from 24 to 62, hate crime elevated from 422 offences to 553, and violence from 1,203 to 1578.
According to the most recent information from Transport for London (TfL), reported offences are up 30 per cent total throughout all providers this yr.
Sarah Olney, the Lib-Dem MP for Richmond Park, instructed the Standard: ‘Londoners ought to be capable of really feel secure on their public transport, but these stunning figures inform a unique story.
The New York Subway has a poor popularity amongst passengers for security, with New Yorkers complaining of feeling threatened by homeless and mentally unwell individuals within the transit system.
That inhabitants surged throughout the pandemic as New Yorkers with properties prevented the subway, and people with no place to reside sought refuge exterior the confines of shelters.
The total subway crime charge spiked in April 2020, as COVID-19 gripped New York, however metropolis statistics present the every day charge fell again to pre-pandemic ranges by mid-2021.
A New York City police officer standing guard on the subway, with has a poor popularity amongst passengers for security
The demise of 30-year-old Michael Jackson impersonator Jordan Neely in May 1 renewed the talk round subway crime. Mr Neely was within the midst of a breakdown when he crossed paths with Daniel Penny, 25.
Video confirmed Penny grabbing him from behind, wrestling him to the bottom and holding him for six minutes till he handed out.
He was later charged with second-degree manslaughter and criminally negligent murder, however has amassed vital assist by some Republican campaigners who imagine he’s a ‘hero’ for intervening to ‘defend’ different passengers.
