Is Clapham safe? Clapham records more crime than the Lambeth and London averages: 111.31 offences per 1,000 people in the 12 months to April 2026, about 8 per cent above Lambeth (103.24) and 35 per cent above London (82.39). Almost half of it is theft, shoplifting and vehicle crime, robbery runs at about twice the London rate, and the total rose 9.5 per cent on the year, so the risk is concentrated around the high street, the stations and the Common rather than spread evenly. CrimeRate counts 6,634 recorded offences in Clapham over that period.
Data: police-recorded crime, 12 months to April 2026 (latest CrimeRate period, checked 22 October 2026), counts and rates from CrimeRate’s analysis of data.police.uk; neighbourhood teams and priorities from the Metropolitan Police’s local pages (checked 22 October 2026); street data on data.police.uk published to August 2026. Shares, ratios and changes are our own arithmetic on those figures. The figures describe recorded incidents, not the people who live here. Updated 22 October 2026.
What is the crime rate in Clapham?
Clapham’s recorded crime rate is 111.31 per 1,000 people in the 12 months to April 2026, according to CrimeRate, from 6,634 recorded offences. That is about 8 per cent above the Lambeth rate of 103.24 and 35 per cent above the London rate of 82.39. The 6,634 offences exclude anti-social behaviour: the 14 categories CrimeRate lists add up to 8,061 incidents, and 1,427 of them (about 18 per cent) are anti-social behaviour reports. CrimeRate files Clapham under Lambeth, so streets on the Wandsworth side of the Common and around Clapham Junction are not covered by these figures. For the rest of the borough, see is Brixton safe?
How does Clapham rank in Lambeth?
Clapham is fifth of the ten Lambeth areas we checked on CrimeRate for the 12 months to April 2026, with 111.31 offences per 1,000 people: below South Bank (198.21), Waterloo (179.63), Brixton (144.13) and South Lambeth (118.10), and above Stockwell, Streatham, West Norwood, Tulse Hill and Streatham Hill. It records the second-largest number of offences of the ten (6,634), after Brixton (7,739), and about 17.5 per cent of all recorded crime in Lambeth.
| Area (Lambeth) | Recorded offences, 12 months to April 2026 | Recorded crime per 1,000, 12 months to April 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| South Bank | 2,123 | 198.21 |
| Waterloo | 2,061 | 179.63 |
| Brixton | 7,739 | 144.13 |
| South Lambeth | 1,193 | 118.10 |
| Clapham | 6,634 | 111.31 |
| Stockwell | 3,067 | 94.23 |
| Streatham | 3,779 | 84.69 |
| West Norwood | 1,681 | 81.24 |
| Tulse Hill | 2,187 | 77.52 |
| Streatham Hill | 1,492 | 61.15 |
| Lambeth (all areas) | 37,842 | 103.24 |
| London | 896,400 | 82.39 |
Source: CrimeRate analysis of data.police.uk (area pages, checked 22 October 2026), anti-social behaviour excluded. Selected Lambeth areas; South Bank’s figure is CrimeRate’s 2026 yearly row.
The gap inside the borough is wide. South Bank and Waterloo top the list because their rates are calculated on small resident counts while millions of visitors pass through, so their rates say more about footfall than about living there. Among the larger residential areas, Clapham sits between Brixton (144.13), about 30 per cent higher, and Streatham Hill (61.15), about 45 per cent lower. Lambeth as a whole is one of the higher-rate boroughs in the capital; read London crime rate by borough for why borough rankings can mislead.
Is Clapham safer than Brixton or Peckham?
Yes, by recorded rate. In the 12 months to April 2026 Clapham recorded 111.31 offences per 1,000 people, against 144.13 in Brixton, 132.04 in Bethnal Green and 121.82 in Peckham on the same CrimeRate measure. All four busy inner-London high-street areas sit well above the London rate of 82.39, so Clapham is calmer than its neighbours but not a low-crime area.
| Area (borough) | Recorded crime per 1,000, 12 months to April 2026 | Compared with London (82.39) |
|---|---|---|
| Brixton (Lambeth) | 144.13 | +75% |
| Bethnal Green (Tower Hamlets) | 132.04 | +60% |
| Peckham (Southwark) | 121.82 | +48% |
| Clapham (Lambeth) | 111.31 | +35% |
| London | 82.39 | – |
Source: CrimeRate analysis of data.police.uk, anti-social behaviour excluded; percentages are our own arithmetic.
Comparing like with like matters here: all four figures come from one source, with one population method. Rates from different websites use different boundaries and population estimates and should not be mixed. For the full pictures, read is Peckham safe? and is Bethnal Green safe?
What kind of crime is recorded in Clapham?
Violence and sexual offences is the largest single category in Clapham, with 1,819 of the 6,634 offences (27.4 per cent) in the 12 months to April 2026, but theft-type offences together are much larger: 3,045 offences, or 45.9 per cent. The table compares Clapham’s rate per 1,000 people in each category with Lambeth and London.
| Category | Clapham offences, 12 months to April 2026 | Clapham per 1,000 | Lambeth per 1,000 | London per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 1,819 | 30.52 | 29.78 | 25.12 |
| Shoplifting | 802 | 13.46 | 9.73 | 8.09 |
| Theft from the person | 758 | 12.71 | 13.48 | 7.11 |
| Other theft | 717 | 12.04 | 12.07 | 8.97 |
| Vehicle crime | 606 | 10.17 | 6.86 | 7.50 |
| Burglary | 377 | 6.32 | 4.90 | 4.34 |
| Criminal damage and arson | 355 | 5.97 | 5.94 | 4.99 |
| Robbery | 345 | 5.79 | 4.78 | 2.83 |
| Public order | 337 | 5.66 | 6.22 | 5.52 |
| Drugs | 249 | 4.17 | 4.94 | 4.87 |
| Bicycle theft | 162 | 2.71 | 2.52 | 1.26 |
| Other crime | 71 | 1.19 | 1.22 | 1.19 |
| Possession of weapons | 36 | 0.60 | 0.80 | 0.60 |
| Total (excl. anti-social behaviour) | 6,634 | 111.31 | 103.24 | 82.39 |
| Anti-social behaviour (not in total) | 1,427 | 23.94 | 26.78 | 21.68 |
Source: CrimeRate analysis of data.police.uk; shares and ratios are our own arithmetic.
Four things stand out. First, robbery (5.79 per 1,000) is about twice the London rate and theft from the person (12.71) about 1.8 times, the pattern of busy pavements, stations and late-night crowds. Second, Clapham is above Lambeth on the property crimes that touch residents directly: vehicle crime is about 1.5 times the borough rate and burglary about 1.3 times. Third, drugs (4.17), public order (5.66) and weapons possession (0.60) are below the Lambeth rate, so Clapham is not a hotspot for the offences that most often follow police activity. Fourth, anti-social behaviour (23.94) is lower than in Lambeth as a whole. Violence and sexual offences is a broad police category that includes harassment and offences with no injury, so it does not mean that more than a quarter of incidents are assaults.
Is crime in Clapham going up or down?
Up. Clapham recorded 6,634 offences in the 12 months to April 2026, up from 6,059 the year before (a rise of 575, or 9.5 per cent), while the Lambeth rate rose about 1 per cent and the London rate fell about 1 per cent. Over ten years Clapham’s count rose about 13 per cent from 5,878 in CrimeRate’s 2017 row, and its rate about 17 per cent.
| Year (CrimeRate yearly row; 2026 = 12 months to April 2026) | Clapham offences | Clapham rate per 1,000 | Lambeth rate per 1,000 | London rate per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 5,878 | 95.14 | 90.39 | 72.41 |
| 2018 | 5,981 | 96.34 | 91.60 | 77.08 |
| 2019 | 5,986 | 96.52 | 92.06 | 80.70 |
| 2020 | 5,298 | 86.27 | 85.15 | 77.66 |
| 2021 | 4,610 | 76.51 | 77.28 | 69.09 |
| 2022 | 5,258 | 88.98 | 86.38 | 75.77 |
| 2023 | 5,381 | 91.11 | 89.57 | 78.98 |
| 2024 | 6,318 | 106.81 | 98.37 | 84.38 |
| 2025 | 6,059 | 102.39 | 102.08 | 83.23 |
| 2026 | 6,634 | 111.31 | 103.24 | 82.39 |
Source: CrimeRate analysis of data.police.uk, anti-social behaviour excluded. Changes are our own arithmetic.
For most of the decade Clapham tracked Lambeth closely: in the 2020 to 2023 rows the two rates were within about 3 per 1,000 of each other. The gap opened in 2024 (106.81 against 98.37) and widened again in 2026 (111.31 against 103.24), and the latest count is the highest in the ten rows, about 11 per cent above the 2019 pre-pandemic level. The 2021 dip (4,610) reflects the lockdown months, so 2019 is the fairer baseline. One year of growth after a dip in 2025 is not yet a firm trend, but over the latest year it runs against London as a whole, where the rate fell, and against Bethnal Green, where the count fell 4.9 per cent.
Which police neighbourhood teams cover Clapham?
Clapham is policed by the Metropolitan Police’s Lambeth neighbourhood teams, mainly the Clapham Town, Clapham Common and Abbeville, Clapham East and Clapham Park Safer Neighbourhood Teams (Met Police pages, checked 22 October 2026). All four set their current priorities on 24 June 2026; robbery, violence against women and girls, drugs and theft of parcels each appear in at least one.
| Met Police neighbourhood team (Lambeth) | Priorities issued 24 June 2026 |
|---|---|
| Clapham Town | Violence, including anti-social behaviour and robbery; violence against women and girls; illegal firework use |
| Clapham Common and Abbeville | Motor vehicle crime; drug use and dealing at hotspot locations; theft of parcels |
| Clapham East | Anti-social behaviour and violence, including robbery; violence against women and girls; illegal fireworks |
| Clapham Park | Anti-social behaviour, including misuse of hire e-bikes and loud music; theft and burglary, including parcels taken from doorsteps; traffic offences; drug offences and locations |
Source: Met Police neighbourhood team pages. Ward boundaries do not match the CrimeRate area exactly, so compare streets, not wards.
The priorities line up with the data. The two teams covering the High Street and the area east of it both name robbery and violence against women and girls, matching Clapham’s robbery rate of twice the London level. The Common and Abbeville team names motor vehicle crime, which fits Clapham’s vehicle crime rate being about 1.5 times Lambeth’s. Priorities are set at ward panel meetings from what residents report, so they are a signal, not a crime count. Illegal fireworks appear twice, worth knowing as Bonfire Night approaches.
When is crime most likely in Clapham?
CrimeRate’s Clapham figures for the 12 months to April 2026 are annual totals, so they show no month-by-month pattern for the area. Police street data is published monthly, and the postcode checker shows the last 12 months for any Clapham postcode by month, which is the best way to see whether a street has a summer or autumn peak. Two of the local teams list illegal fireworks as a priority, so late October and early November are worth checking on your own street.
Is Clapham safe at night?
No official data shows whether Clapham is riskier at night: police street-level data, including the 6,634 offences recorded in the 12 months to April 2026, carries a month and an approximate location but no time of day. What the mix does show is that robbery (345 offences, about twice the London rate) and theft from the person (758) are high, which is consistent with a busy bar and restaurant strip on Clapham High Street and around the Old Town. Late at night, keep your phone out of sight when leaving the station or a venue, stay on the lit streets around the Common rather than crossing it in the dark, and plan the trip home before the night starts; our sister site has a walking home at night checklist. You can also check your own route in the UK crime map.
Is Clapham a safe place to live?
The rate that matters for a home is the one for your own street, not the area average of 111.31 per 1,000. Clapham’s figure is pushed up by the High Street, the three stations and the shopping and nightlife streets, where many offences are recorded but fewer people live. For residents, the numbers to watch are burglary (6.32 per 1,000, about 1.3 times Lambeth) and vehicle crime (10.17, about 1.5 times Lambeth), plus parcel theft, which two local teams name as a priority. Streatham Hill (61.15) to the south records far less crime per person. Compare two postcodes before deciding, and read how to check crime in your area for the limits of any single number. This page describes what was recorded, not the people who live here.
How do I check a specific street or postcode in Clapham?
- Enter the postcode in the postcode checker to see 12 months of police-recorded crime and the trend by month.
- Add a second postcode, for example one near Clapham Common station and one near Clapham North, to compare two streets side by side.
- Use the London crime map guide to see how Lambeth compares with Wandsworth and the other boroughs.
- Check the local Met Police team page for current priorities and how to contact the team about a non-urgent problem.
These figures describe areas, not addresses. Police data covers reported crime only, and each crime is shown at a nearby anonymised point. Read where our crime data comes from for the limits. Rates from different websites use different population estimates and are not directly comparable, so the area numbers on this page all come from one source.
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Clapham crime FAQ
Is Clapham safe?
Clapham records more crime than average: 111.31 per 1,000 people in the 12 months to April 2026, against 103.24 for Lambeth and 82.39 for London. Almost half is theft-type crime around the high street and stations, and it is lower than Brixton (144.13) or Peckham (121.82).
What is the crime rate in Clapham?
111.31 recorded crimes per 1,000 people in the 12 months to April 2026 (6,634 offences), according to CrimeRate’s analysis of police data. Anti-social behaviour, a further 1,427 reports, is not included in that figure.
Is Clapham safe at night?
Police data cannot answer it directly, because the 6,634 offences recorded in the 12 months to April 2026 have no time of day. Robbery runs at about twice the London rate, so keep your phone out of sight near the stations and venues and use lit streets rather than crossing the Common late.
Is Clapham safer than Brixton?
Yes, by recorded rate. In the 12 months to April 2026 Clapham recorded 111.31 offences per 1,000 people and Brixton 144.13, so Brixton’s rate is about 30 per cent higher on the same CrimeRate measure.
Is crime in Clapham going up?
Yes. Recorded offences rose from 6,059 to 6,634 (9.5 per cent) in the 12 months to April 2026, the highest of CrimeRate’s last ten yearly rows, while the London rate fell about 1 per cent.
More on South and inner London: is Brixton safe?, is Peckham safe?, is Croydon safe?, is Woolwich safe? and is Bethnal Green safe? Across the capital: is London safe? and safest areas in London. In an emergency call 999.