The line graph illustrates the number of serious crimes committed in London between 2003 and 2012, namely armed robberies, assaults and murders.
Overall, it is clear that armed robbery was initially the most common offence but experienced a dramatic decline over the period. In contrast, assault figures rose gradually despite some fluctuations, while the number of murders remained relatively stable throughout.
In 2003, there were approximately 3,400 armed robbery incidents in London. This figure peaked at around 3,700 in 2004 before falling sharply over the next four years to just over 1,000 cases in 2008. Following a slight recovery to roughly 1,500 in 2009, the number then remained unchanged at around this level until the end of the period.
Assaults began at about 2,300 cases in 2003 and fluctuated mildly between 2,000 and 2,300 during the first half of the period. From 2008 onwards, however, the figure increased steadily, reaching approximately 2,700 by 2012, making it the most prevalent type of crime. Meanwhile, murder numbers showed comparatively little variation, staying within a range of roughly 500 to 900 cases across the entire timeframe.