Gun crime rises in south London boroughs as police warn about children drawn into gangs

Recorded gun crime rose by 23% in Southwark and 22% in neighbouring Lambeth in the year ending August 2026, compared with the previous year. In Lambeth, knife injuries reported to police rose by 9% between April and August compared with the same months in 2025. These borough-wide figures are not specific to young people or gangs. [1]

London recorded its lowest homicide total in more than a decade in 2025. Since April 2026, however, 11 killings — about a fifth of those in the capital during that period — have been in Lambeth and Southwark. [1]

Officers told the BBC that children could be offered money to hold or carry items as a way of drawing them into gangs. Detective Superintendent Gareth Gilbert said children as young as 10 were being lured in. Detective Constable Faisal El Issaoui said social media was fuelling violence, describing gangs livestreaming visits to rivals’ territory. Police said they could not be certain what was driving the increase in violence. [1]

Police launched targeted operations over the summer. Officers said they made more than 700 arrests and seized more than 40 weapons, as well as Class A drugs. [1]