Total Crime Rate

3885.3 per 1,000 10/10 · Very High

All offences · May 2025 - Apr 2026

Violent Crime Rate

934.4 per 1,000 10/10 · Very High

May 2025 - Apr 2026
Latest update: 06.06.2026 Crime figures are sourced from data.police.uk and are typically published with a 3-month delay.
Crime rate per 1000 residents
  • All crimes 3885.3 10/10
  • Anti-social behaviour 1491.8 10/10
  • Violent crimes 934.4 10/10
  • Shoplifting 819.7 10/10
  • Violence and sexual offences 663.9 10/10
  • Public order 245.9 10/10
  • Other theft 237.7 10/10
  • Criminal damage and arson 155.7 10/10
  • Bicycle theft 57.4 10/10
  • Vehicle crime 57.4 10/10
  • Drugs 49.2 10/10
  • Theft from the person 41.0 10/10
  • Burglary 32.8 10/10
  • Robbery 16.4 10/10
  • Other crime 8.2 9/10
  • Possession of weapons 8.2 9/10
Values shown per 1,000 residents · May 2025 - Apr 2026 · Rating compares this oa to UK peers of the same type.
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Crime overview

Howardsgate area has the highest crime rate of 24 local areas in Handside , and the highest crime rate of 361 local areas in Welwyn Hatfield .

This postcode sits in a local crime hotspot. Overall crime levels here are significantly higher than in the surrounding streets and the wider area.

The overall crime rate in the area around Howardsgate (AL8 6BB) in the last 12 months was 3885.3 per 1,000 residents and was 1758.3% higher than the Handside average (209.1 per 1,000 residents). In the last 12 months, this area’s most reported crimes were Anti-social behaviour with 182 offences recorded. The least common crime was Other crime with 1 case , down -50.0% compared to 2025. The fastest-growing crime category was Vehicle crime ( 75.0% YoY). The sharpest decline was Robbery ( -60.0% YoY).

Violent crimes totalled 114 (≈ 934.4 per 1,000 residents). Year-over-year these were falling ( -4.2% ). Over the last decade, overall crime has falling ( -65.7% comparing early vs recent averages) .

In the area around Howardsgate (AL8 6BB), the main crime hotspot is near Shopping Area. Police recorded 457 crimes here, including 70 violent or public-order offences. All these locations are within roughly 0.3 miles.

View Crime In Handside

Crime Over Time in Howardsgate area

Showing crimes within 0.3 miles (30/99)
Month:
MonthCrimeLocation*Last Outcome
Apr 2026Criminal damage and arson Fretherne Road Under investigation
Apr 2026Violence and sexual offences Shopping Area Under investigation
Apr 2026Shoplifting Shopping Area Investigation complete; no suspect identified
Apr 2026Shoplifting Shopping Area Awaiting court outcome
Apr 2026Shoplifting Shopping Area Investigation complete; no suspect identified
Apr 2026Shoplifting Shopping Area Under investigation
Apr 2026Shoplifting Shopping Area Investigation complete; no suspect identified
Apr 2026Shoplifting Shopping Area Investigation complete; no suspect identified
Apr 2026Shoplifting Shopping Area Investigation complete; no suspect identified
Apr 2026Violence and sexual offences Parking Area Unable to prosecute suspect
Apr 2026Shoplifting Shopping Area Investigation complete; no suspect identified
Apr 2026Anti-social behaviour Supermarket —
Apr 2026Anti-social behaviour Supermarket —
Apr 2026Anti-social behaviour Supermarket —
Apr 2026Anti-social behaviour Supermarket —
Apr 2026Shoplifting Supermarket Investigation complete; no suspect identified
Apr 2026Shoplifting Supermarket Investigation complete; no suspect identified
Apr 2026Shoplifting Supermarket Investigation complete; no suspect identified
Apr 2026Shoplifting Shopping Area Investigation complete; no suspect identified
Apr 2026Shoplifting Shopping Area Awaiting court outcome
Apr 2026Shoplifting Shopping Area Local resolution
Apr 2026Violence and sexual offences Parking Area Investigation complete; no suspect identified
Apr 2026Criminal damage and arson Shopping Area Under investigation
Apr 2026Other theft Shopping Area Investigation complete; no suspect identified
Apr 2026Other theft Shopping Area Investigation complete; no suspect identified
Apr 2026Public order Shopping Area Under investigation
Apr 2026Shoplifting Shopping Area Investigation complete; no suspect identified
Apr 2026Shoplifting Shopping Area Local resolution
Apr 2026Shoplifting Shopping Area Under investigation
Apr 2026Anti-social behaviour Parking Area —
* on or near this location Page 1 • Showing 30 of 99

Data Sources

StreetScan crime figures are based on official UK open data:

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. © Crown copyright and database right.

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