London's mayor says falling crime shows the city is safe despite alarming online claims

LONDON (AP) — London’s mayor and police chief on Thursday used a drop in recorded street crime to reassure tourists the city is safe and counter an online narrative depicting Britain’s capital as a lawless dystopia.

The city's Metropolitan Police force said “neighborhood crime,” a category that includes phone theft, pickpocketing, residential burglary and vehicle crime, fell 14% in the year to June. In Westminster borough – home to tourist magnets including Parliament, Soho and Leicester Square – those crimes fell by more than a third, and they were down by a quarter in neighboring Camden, another tourist hotspot.

Yet Mayor Sadiq Khan said that in the past two years “we’ve seen a 200% increase in stories on social media about London being in quote unquote ‘decline’ or London being dangerous.” Those claims have mushroomed on social media and have been echoed by right-leaning politicians, often tied to anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim views.

Khan blames an online “outrage economy” that monetizes negativity.

A big chunk of that online ire is aimed at London’s first Muslim mayor. Khan, who has led London since 2016, has been the target of insults from X owner Elon Musk and U.S. President Donald Trump, who has called him a “stone-cold loser” and a “terrible, terrible mayor.”

“We know there are bot farms making money from negative stories about London,” Khan told The Associated Press. “We know that there are state actors in Russia and China and MAGA-backed influencers in the USA who want to do London down. Why? Because we’re liberal, we’re progressive, we are multicultural and we’re incredibly successful.

“If the social media companies don’t sort themselves out, I think there’s got to be regulation,” he said.

Violent crime has been falling in London, as in other big cities in Europe and North America. Police recorded 97 homicides in the city in 2025, the fewest since 2014 and a lower rate per population than Paris, Berlin or New York.

That is only part of London’s crime story, though. Khan said he is concerned by a rise in hate crimes targeting Muslims and Jews, spurred in part by conflicts in the Middle East.

“We’ve got to make sure we give these communities the confidence to report these crimes,” he said. “We’ve also got to be sure we support them to make their places of worship safer, so nobody’s scared to practice their faith.”

Then there is the everyday crime that degrades urban quality of life. Many Londoners have firsthand experience of phone-snatching or have witnessed a surge in shoplifting and subway fare-dodging.

Police said Thursday’s figures show they are curbing those offenses through a combination of high visibility patrols in crime hotspots, intelligence-led operations targeting prolific offenders and technology.

Metropolitan Police chief Mark Rowley highlighted the force’s “innovative and creative” – though also contentious – use of facial recognition technology.

“There’s classic police work, officers on the streets, supported by the best of 21st century technology that’s making a difference,” he said.

Rowley was appointed Metropolitan Police commissioner in 2022, and has led the force as it tries to regain public confidence following a series of scandals and an independent review that found it mired in sexism, homophobia and institutional racism.

It also faces counter-claims from the right of a “two-tier” policing approach that is biased against white people.

Rowley said that “the entire community can have faith in the Met.”

“We’re routinely invited to join either side of the culture wars. We’re politely declining those invites,” he said. “We operate under the law without fear or favor. We’re here to protect every citizen and we do that with equal vigor.”

Julianne Sweeten, a 21-year-old university student from Chesapeake, Virginia studying abroad in London, said the city “feels a lot safer than the U.S.”

“There’s very little threat of gun violence,” she said, and her worries about phone-snatching have proved unfounded so far.

Artist Vicky Hawkins, 78, has lived in London all her life and thinks crime is “about the same” as it ever was.

“I know people feel more unsafe, I think, these days. But I don’t,” she said. “But I know not to push my luck.”

London Mayor Sadiq Khan, is interviewed after a walkabout through the borough of Camden in London, Thursday, July 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Mark Rowley, Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, is interviewed after a walkabout through the borough of Camden in London, Thursday, July 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

London Mayor Sadiq Khan, right, with Police Constable Opara speak, during a walkabout through the borough of Camden in London, Thursday, July 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

London Mayor Sadiq Khan, is interviewed after a walkabout through the borough of Camden in London, Thursday, July 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

London Mayor Sadiq Khan, centre, and Mark Rowley, Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, right, speak to staff, during a walkabout through the borough of Camden in London, Thursday, July 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper is investing an additional $500 million into ongoing stadium renovations to improve overall fan experience with an eye toward potentially bringing the Super Bowl, NFL draft, 2031 Women’s World Cup and other major sporting events to Charlotte.

The investment coincides with the team announcing it has reached a long-term extension on a stadium naming rights deal Thursday with Bank of America.

The additional investment in the 30-year-old downtown stadium brings the total cost of renovations to $1.3 billion.

The project is expected to be completed by 2030.

The Panthers released new stadium renderings highlighting enhancements and a broader vision of what is referred to as the new “Charlotte corridor,” which includes a 4,400-seat music venue designed to help make the city a more attractive year-round weekend destination.

“The long-term extension with Bank of America reflects the strength of our partnership and our shared commitment to the Carolinas,” Tepper, the owner and chairman of Tepper Sports & Entertainment (TSE), said in a release. “For over three decades, Bank of America Stadium has helped create lasting memories for our fans and we’re excited for them to see what’s ahead. Our goal is to create experiences that enhance the passion and energy of the region while transforming this corridor into a weekend destination for world-class sports, entertainment and community events.”

Bank of America Stadium is currently home to the Major League Soccer’s Charlotte FC, as well as the Panthers.

It regularly hosts concerts as well as the Atlantic Coast Conference football championship, the Duke's Mayo Bowl and, most recently, a soccer match between the United States and Senegal which served as a precursor to the World Cup.

When asked directly if the Panthers are considering submitting a bid to host a first-ever Super Bowl in Charlotte, team president and TSE CEO Kristi Coleman replied, “We would love to get a Super Bowl. ... I think doing projects like this help you get it. It for sure helps your resume.”

Of course, there are other factors that go into ultimately landing the NFL’s biggest event, including number of hotels and other infrastructure.

“Does this guarantee (a Super Bowl)? No. But does this help? Yes,” Coleman said.

The additional renovations are privately funded with no additional taxpayer money required.

TSE will pay for any overage costs and ongoing maintenance associated with the project.

The city of Charlotte originally contributed $650 million to the project in 2024 with TSE adding the additional $150 million, bringing the original cost of stadium renovations to $800 million after Tepper decided to remain in the stadium rather than build a new one.

The entire stadium and its surroundings are being reimagined.

Renderings released Thursday showcase expanded indoor-outdoor gathering spaces across all levels, a 500-level social patio with sweeping views of Uptown Charlotte. There will also be larger and more dynamic scoreboards and displays and improved audio.

Seating options have been upgraded with premium offerings including technology designed to create a more connected and personalized experience.

When finished, the entire exterior of the stadium will look completely different to Panthers fans with a fresh, modern, open-air look that includes a signature illuminated crown for the Queen City skyline.

The black metal gates that surround portions of the stadium will be removed, creating a more welcoming park-style setting.

The renderings also include expanded retail and food and beverage options, increased restroom capacity, and flexible event spaces that will support game days while serving community, corporate and other special events during the offseason.

Included in what Panthers officials now call the “corridor” is the new entertainment venue outside of the North gate.

Coleman said the goal of everyone involved has been to bring Tepper’s vision to life.

Over the past few years the Panthers have brought some of the team’s fans to opposing cities to see what they like about other stadiums. They have also listened to suggestions and criticisms from existing permanent seat license holders about the game day experience in Charlotte.

“Our fans from Raleigh or Charleston and other places would say ‘we want this to be a weekend destination, not just for Sundays,’” Coleman said.

The need for music was high on the fans' wish list, Coleman said.

Such was the impetus for the building of the entertainment venue that will host 80 to 100 concerts and events during the year, as well as provide enhanced hospitality on NFL game days.

“So now people can come on a Friday and go to a concert, go to a soccer match on Saturday and then stay for a Panthers game on Sunday,” Coleman said. “That was really the vision.”

Coleman said the renovations have something everyone throughout the stadium can benefit from whether sitting in the lower bowl, upper bowl or luxury suites.

“I'm so excited that every fan will experience something different," Coleman said.

Charlotte Mayor Rob Harrington called the project an investment in Charlotte’s future “preserving an iconic venue, enhancing the fan experience, and ensuring Bank of America Stadium continues to create unforgettable memories while giving visitors countless reasons to return to our city for years to come.”

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FILE - Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper is seen prior to an NFL football game between the Carolina Panthers and the Jacksonville Jaguars in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn,File)

FILE - In this Aug. 16, 2012 file photo, the skyline of Charlotte, N.C., rises behind Bank of America Stadium in this aerial photo. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton, File)