Crime by Postcode

WatfordTown

Crime in Watford

Recorded crime in Watford is 1.4 times the Watford council average and 1.4 times the England and Wales average. Over 5 years it has fallen 3%. Most of the harm comes from violence and sexual offences. Police data to August 2026.

Within 1.5 km of the centre of Watford: about 41,974 residents in 34 neighbourhoods.

Safety
2/10High crime
Living
9.1/10Excellent
5-year change
−3%fewer crimes
vs the council
1.4×the Watford council average
Open on the map

Neighbourhoods by Safety

Watford 009D: Safety 1 out of 10, high crimeWatford 009B: Safety 1 out of 10, high crimeWatford 009H: Safety 1 out of 10, high crimeWatford 009I: Safety 1 out of 10, high crimeWatford 009G: Safety 1 out of 10, high crimeWatford 009F: Safety 2 out of 10, high crimeWatford 010C: Safety 2 out of 10, high crimeWatford 010A: Safety 2 out of 10, high crimeWatford 010D: Safety 2 out of 10, high crimeWatford 009E: Safety 1 out of 10, high crimeWatford 008C: Safety 2 out of 10, high crimeHertsmere 008C: Safety 4 out of 10, above average crimeWatford 010B: Safety 7 out of 10, low crimeWatford 007C: Safety 3 out of 10, above average crimeWatford 006A: Safety 5 out of 10, average crimeWatford 005A: Safety 5 out of 10, average crimeWatford 010E: Safety 8 out of 10, low crimeHertsmere 008B: Safety 4 out of 10, above average crimeWatford 012B: Safety 4 out of 10, above average crimeWatford 007F: Safety 7 out of 10, low crimeWatford 011C: Safety 6 out of 10, average crimeWatford 011A: Safety 7 out of 10, low crimeWatford 012C: Safety 4 out of 10, above average crimeWatford 008D: Safety 7 out of 10, low crimeWatford 008A: Safety 6 out of 10, average crimeWatford 011G: Safety 6 out of 10, average crimeWatford 012D: Safety 7 out of 10, low crimeHertsmere 012B: Safety 7 out of 10, low crimeWatford 011B: Safety 5 out of 10, average crimeHertsmere 008A: Safety 6 out of 10, average crimeWatford 012A: Safety 8 out of 10, low crimeThree Rivers 008C: Safety 6 out of 10, average crimeHertsmere 012E: Safety 7 out of 10, low crimeWatford 011F: Safety 5 out of 10, average crime
1 = least safe, 10 = safest. Grey: no score. Select a neighbourhood to open it on the map.

Within 1.5 km of the centre of Watford.

Crime over 5 years

Down 3% in 5 years Recorded crimes within 1.5 km of Watford, anti-social behaviour left out.

Sep 2021 – Aug 2022: 5,285 crimesSep 2021 – Aug 20225,285Sep 2022 – Aug 2023: 5,216 crimesSep 2022 – Aug 20235,216Sep 2023 – Aug 2024: 4,753 crimesSep 2023 – Aug 20244,753Sep 2024 – Aug 2025: 4,857 crimesSep 2024 – Aug 20254,857Sep 2025 – Aug 2026: 5,107 crimesSep 2025 – Aug 20265,107

What is recorded

Crime severity: 1.4× the Watford council average (1.4× the England and Wales average). 120 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents a year.

  • Violence and sexual offences: 58% of the harm here
  • Robbery: 11% of the harm here
  • Burglary: 10% of the harm here

Anti-social behaviour: 36 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.

TypePer 1,000 a year
Robbery2.3
Burglary4.3
Violence and sexual offences40.6
Drugs5.0
Possession of weapons2.0
Other crime1.9
Other theft11.6
Theft from the person4.9
Vehicle crime8.8
Criminal damage and arson9.0
Public order8.8
Bicycle theft4.6
Shoplifting15.8

Postcode districts in Watford

Nearby towns

Council: Watford

Questions about crime in Watford

Is Watford a safe place to live?
Watford scores 2 out of 10 for safety (high crime), compared with every neighbourhood in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Crime severity is 1.4 times the Watford council average.
Is crime going up or down in Watford?
Down 3% over 5 years, from 5,285 recorded crimes a year to 5,107.
What is the most common crime in Watford?
The most common recorded crime is violence and sexual offences, about 41 per 1,000 residents a year.
How does crime in Watford compare with Watford council?
Crime severity in Watford is 1.4 times the Watford council average.