WatfordCouncil area
Crime in Watford
Recorded crime in Watford is about the England and Wales average. Over 5 years it has risen 5%. Most of the harm comes from violence and sexual offences. Police data to August 2026.
107,171 residents in 58 neighbourhoods.
- Safety
- 4/10Above average crime
- Living
- 8.5/10Excellent
- 5-year change
- +5%more crimes
Crime over 5 years
Up 5% in 5 years Recorded crimes in Watford, anti-social behaviour left out.
What is recorded
Crime severity: about the England and Wales average. 84 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents a year.
- Violence and sexual offences: 58% of the harm here
- Burglary: 12% of the harm here
- Robbery: 9% of the harm here
Anti-social behaviour: 27 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 | 1.4 |
| Burglary | 3.8 |
| Violence and sexual offences | 29.7 |
| Drugs | 3.2 |
| Possession of weapons | 1.4 |
| Other crime | 1.4 |
| Other theft | 8.7 |
| Theft from the person | 2.3 |
| Vehicle crime | 7.9 |
| Criminal damage and arson | 7.3 |
| Public order | 6.0 |
| Bicycle theft | 2.6 |
| Shoplifting | 8.6 |
Towns and cities in Watford
Postcode districts in Watford
Questions about crime in Watford
- Is Watford a safe place to live?
- Watford scores 4 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 Watford?
- Up 5% over 5 years, from 9,054 recorded crimes a year to 9,475.
- What is the most common crime in Watford?
- The most common recorded crime is violence and sexual offences, about 30 per 1,000 residents a year.