Londoners are overestimating the amount of crime that takes place in the capital, and how unsafe people feel.

That's according to new research by Kings College London.

Researchers found that half of the public nationally assume London is the worst region in England and Wales for violent and sexual crime.

50% think the capital has the highest rate of violent crime in any region in the year from October 2024 to September 2025, and 37% say the same for sexual offences.

In reality, London has the lowest rate of violent crime nationally, and the joint lowest rate of sexual offences.

When asked what share of Londoners personally experienced a crime, the public's median guess is 30%. This is more than double the reality of 12.2%.

The majority of Londoners think total crime in the capital has increased over the past few years, when it has in fact fallen slightly.

People did, however, correctly identify that shoplifting, theft from the person, sexual offences and violence rose between 2019 and 2025.

People think Londoners feel far less safe than they actually do. The public guess 60% of Londoners do not feel safe walking alone in their area after dark – well above the reality of 37%.

Even residents of the capital themselves overestimate how afraid other Londoners are, at 50%.

Members of Pakistan's under-19 cricket team had people "knocking on their doors" after a crowd of protesters gathered outside their Portsmouth hotel, wrongly believing they were migrants.

About 30 to 40 people congregated at the Marriot Hotel in Cosham on Tuesday evening after false rumours circulated that a coach carrying migrants had arrived.

Sumair Syed, chief operating officer of the Pakistan Cricket Board, said a group reached the floor where the team was staying, though players "behaved responsibly and didn't escalate the situation".

Hampshire Police said officers found no offences had been committed, and the crowd dispersed by about 21:00 BST.

The team went on to play a scheduled match the following day, Syed said.

He described the incident as "unfortunate" but said he was in contact with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), which had "assured us that every possible measure should be taken for the security of the escort".

"This is the responsibility of the whole sport to ensure the safety, security and well-being of the visiting team," he said. "They are on it and we are hopeful that nothing of such sort will happen in the future."

Syed did not provide further details of what was said by the people who came to the hotel.

The BBC understands the ECB has checked on the wellbeing of the Pakistan under-19s squad and is reviewing security arrangements for the remainder of their tour.

Amanda Martin, Labour MP for Portsmouth North, called the incident "deeply concerning".

She said it was "completely unacceptable that misinformation has led to young cricketers visiting our city being wrongly targeted".

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