Crime Rate in Central, ward

Central has the highest crime rate of 12 wards in Watford district and the 75th highest crime rate ward of 7,548 wards in England and Wales. Across the region (East of England), it has the 5th highest crime rate of 947 wards.

The overall crime rate in Central in the last 12 months was 349.0 per 1,000 residents and was 210.3% higher than the Watford district average (112.5 per 1,000 residents). In the last 12 months, Central’s most reported crimes were Violence and sexual offences with 1,034 offences recorded. The least common crime was Possession of weapons with 50 cases , up 11.1% compared to 2024. The fastest-growing crime category was Drugs ( 38.8% YoY). The sharpest decline was Robbery ( -38.9% YoY).

Violent crimes totalled 1,404 (≈ 129.2 per 1,000 residents). Year-over-year these were rising ( 11.3% ). Over the last decade, overall crime has falling ( -37.2% comparing early vs recent averages) .

In the Central ward, the main local crime hotspot is near Shopping Area. Police recorded 654 crimes here, including 186 violent or public-order offences. All of these hotspots lie within roughly 0.3 miles.