Crime in Waltham Abbey
Recorded crime in Waltham Abbey is 1.1 times the Epping Forest average and 1.1 times the England and Wales average. Over 5 years it has fallen 6%. Most of the harm comes from violence and sexual offences. Police data to August 2026.
Within 1.5 km of the centre of Waltham Abbey: about 17,588 residents in 13 neighbourhoods.
- Safety
- 3/10Above average crime
- Living
- 6.3/10Fair
- 5-year change
- −6%fewer crimes
- vs the council
- 1.1×the Epping Forest average
Neighbourhoods by Safety
Within 1.5 km of the centre of Waltham Abbey.
Crime over 5 years
Down 6% in 5 years Recorded crimes within 1.5 km of Waltham Abbey, anti-social behaviour left out.
What is recorded
Crime severity: 1.1× the Epping Forest average (1.1× the England and Wales average). 83 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents a year.
- Violence and sexual offences: 63% of the harm here
- Burglary: 13% of the harm here
- Vehicle crime: 6% of the harm here
"Violence and sexual offences" is 63% of the harm here. It is a broad police category: most of these crimes are assaults without injury, harassment and threats, often indoors between people who know each other, and only a small part are sexual or serious violent offences. Police data does not say which, so each one is weighted at the England and Wales average for the category, which can overstate a quiet residential area.
Anti-social behaviour: 19 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 | 0.9 |
| Burglary | 4.6 |
| Violence and sexual offences | 34.0 |
| Drugs | 2.9 |
| Possession of weapons | 0.7 |
| Other crime | 1.5 |
| Other theft | 7.0 |
| Theft from the person | 0.4 |
| Vehicle crime | 12.7 |
| Criminal damage and arson | 8.3 |
| Public order | 7.2 |
| Bicycle theft | 0.3 |
| Shoplifting | 2.6 |
Postcode districts in Waltham Abbey
Nearby towns
Council: Epping Forest
Questions about crime in Waltham Abbey
- Is Waltham Abbey a safe place to live?
- Waltham Abbey scores 3 out of 10 for safety (above average crime), compared with every neighbourhood in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Crime severity is 1.1 times the Epping Forest average.
- Is crime going up or down in Waltham Abbey?
- Down 6% over 5 years, from 1,610 recorded crimes a year to 1,506.
- What is the most common crime in Waltham Abbey?
- The most common recorded crime is violence and sexual offences, about 34 per 1,000 residents a year.
- How does crime in Waltham Abbey compare with Epping Forest?
- Crime severity in Waltham Abbey is 1.1 times the Epping Forest average.