Waltham ForestCouncil area
Crime in Waltham Forest
Recorded crime in Waltham Forest is 1.1 times the England and Wales average. It is about the same as 5 years ago. The biggest share of the harm comes from violence and sexual offences. Police data to August 2026.
279,737 residents in 146 neighbourhoods.
- Safety
- 3/10Above average crime
- Living
- 9.0/10Excellent
- 5-year change
- +1%more crimes
Crime over 5 years
About the same as 5 years ago Recorded crimes in Waltham Forest, anti-social behaviour left out.
What is recorded
Crime severity: 1.1× the England and Wales average. 82 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents a year.
- Violence and sexual offences: 44% of the harm here
- Robbery: 17% of the harm here
- Burglary: 16% of the harm here
Anti-social behaviour: 28 incidents per 1,000 residents a year, not scored. Not a crime, so it is not part of the Safety score.
Crime by type
Recorded crimes per 1,000 residents per year, most serious first, not counting anti-social behaviour.
| Type | Per 1,000 a year |
|---|---|
| Robbery | 2.8 |
| Burglary | 5.9 |
| Violence and sexual offences | 24.6 |
| Drugs | 4.9 |
| Possession of weapons | 0.7 |
| Other crime | 1.0 |
| Other theft | 9.4 |
| Theft from the person | 3.8 |
| Vehicle crime | 12.2 |
| Criminal damage and arson | 5.7 |
| Public order | 5.1 |
| Bicycle theft | 1.7 |
| Shoplifting | 4.5 |
Postcode districts in Waltham Forest
Questions about crime in Waltham Forest
- Is Waltham Forest a safe place to live?
- Waltham Forest scores 3 out of 10 for safety (above average crime), compared with every neighbourhood in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
- Is crime going up or down in Waltham Forest?
- About the same as 5 years ago: 22,247 recorded crimes a year then, 22,553 now.
- What is the most common crime in Waltham Forest?
- The most common recorded crime is violence and sexual offences, about 25 per 1,000 residents a year.