The line graph illustrates the number of offences committed across three categories of serious crime – armed robbery, assault and murder – in London between 2003 and 2012.
Overall, armed robbery was the most reported crime at the beginning of the given period, yet it experienced a significant decline and was overtaken by assault, which became the most widespread type of violation. At the same time, murder remained the lowest with mild fluctuations.
In 2003, the number of armed robberies was just under 3500, then reached its peak in 2004 with nearly 400 increase. After that, the proportion dropped significantly, showing just above 1000 of reported cases in 2008. At the same time, assaults were the second most widespread crime with approximately 2300 cases in 2003, which endured some fluctuations thereafter and declined to 2000, while the number of reported murders was about 500 and increased in 2005 to just under 1000.
After 2008, armed robbery increased in numbers, but could not overcome the mark of 1500 robberies and remained the same until 2012. In the same year, the occurrences of assaults increased and became the most widespread crime, reaching roughly 2750 in 2012, whereas murders remained unchanged with some oscillations over the whole period.