Crime in Watton
Recorded crime in Watton is 0.8 times the Breckland average and 0.6 times the England and Wales average. Over 5 years it has fallen 14%. Most of the harm comes from violence and sexual offences. Police data to August 2026.
Within 1.5 km of the centre of Watton: about 8,723 residents in 9 neighbourhoods.
- Safety
- 7/10Low crime
- Living
- 5.3/10Fair
- 5-year change
- −14%fewer crimes
- vs the council
- 0.8×the Breckland average
Neighbourhoods by Safety
Within 1.5 km of the centre of Watton.
Crime over 5 years
Down 14% in 5 years Recorded crimes within 1.5 km of Watton, anti-social behaviour left out.
What is recorded
Crime severity: 0.8× the Breckland average (0.6× the England and Wales average). 42 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents a year.
- Violence and sexual offences: 77% of the harm here
- Burglary: 10% of the harm here
- Other theft: 4% of the harm here
"Violence and sexual offences" is 77% 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: 12 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 | 0.1 |
| Burglary | 1.8 |
| Violence and sexual offences | 22.7 |
| Drugs | 1.1 |
| Possession of weapons | 0.3 |
| Other crime | 1.3 |
| Other theft | 3.1 |
| Theft from the person | 0.1 |
| Vehicle crime | 1.3 |
| Criminal damage and arson | 4.6 |
| Public order | 4.0 |
| Bicycle theft | 0.2 |
| Shoplifting | 1.6 |
Postcode districts in Watton
Nearby towns
Council: Breckland
Questions about crime in Watton
- Is Watton a safe place to live?
- Watton scores 7 out of 10 for safety (low crime), compared with every neighbourhood in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Crime severity is 0.8 times the Breckland average.
- Is crime going up or down in Watton?
- Down 14% over 5 years, from 421 recorded crimes a year to 363.
- What is the most common crime in Watton?
- The most common recorded crime is violence and sexual offences, about 23 per 1,000 residents a year.
- How does crime in Watton compare with Breckland?
- Crime severity in Watton is 0.8 times the Breckland average.