Safety index · Tower Hamlets, London · data through June 2026
Is Bow West safe?
Bow West records more reported crime than most London neighbourhoods. Its SafeRoute safety index is 54 out of 100 — 5 points below the Inner London median of 59, ranking 162nd of 248 Inner London areas — based on 541 incidents reported to the police within 1 km of the neighbourhood centre over the month to June 2026.
DATA THROUGH JUNE 2026 · 1 MONTH OF DATA
The 0–100 scale is calibrated to London — a typical London neighbourhood sits near 59. It ranks Bow West against other neighbourhoods here, and cannot be read against a score in another city.
The largest reported category here is violent crime (32% of reports) — worth taking seriously when walking at night; the full mix is broken down below.
Where incidents cluster
What's reported here
| Violent crime | 172 · 32% | |
| Anti-social behaviour | 113 · 21% | |
| Public order | 43 · 8% | |
| Burglary | 27 · 5% | |
| Robbery | 20 · 4% | |
| Other theft | 39 · 7% |
Walking in Bow West at night?
SafeRoute scores every walking route against the same live crime data on this page — and shows how much of each route runs on lit streets. Pick the safer way, share your walk, and check in when you arrive. Free, no account.
Get SafeRoute on the App StoreNearby areas
- Bethnal Green East49/100 · Elevated
- Bow East67/100 · Moderate
- Victoria59/100 · Moderate
- St Dunstan's46/100 · Elevated
- Bromley North56/100 · Moderate
Common questions
Is Bow West safe at night?
Moderate overall (safety index 54/100). At night, prefer lit, busier streets — a short detour often avoids the clusters on the map above.
What is the most common crime in Bow West?
Violent crime — 172 of 541 incidents (32%) reported within 1 km of the neighbourhood centre over the month to June 2026.
How is the Bow West safety index calculated?
SafeRoute weights each police-recorded incident by severity (violence weighs more than shoplifting), sums the last available period within 1 km of the neighbourhood centre, and normalises against national crime rates onto a 0–100 scale — higher is safer. It describes reported crime only; it is not a guarantee of safety. The scale is calibrated within London, so scores compare neighbourhoods to each other and cannot be read against another city's.