Total Crime Rate

874.0 per 1,000 10/10 · Very High

All offences · May 2025 - Apr 2026

Violent Crime Rate

229.7 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 874.0 10/10
  • Shoplifting 292.7 10/10
  • Violent crimes 229.7 10/10
  • Violence and sexual offences 168.7 10/10
  • Anti-social behaviour 119.9 10/10
  • Other theft 63.0 10/10
  • Theft from the person 44.7 10/10
  • Public order 32.5 10/10
  • Criminal damage and arson 30.5 10/10
  • Bicycle theft 28.5 10/10
  • Drugs 26.4 10/10
  • Robbery 24.4 10/10
  • Burglary 16.3 10/10
  • Other crime 12.2 10/10
  • Vehicle crime 10.2 8/10
  • Possession of weapons 4.1 7/10
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

Water Lane area has the 4th highest crime rate of 31 local areas in Central , and the 5th highest crime rate of 271 local areas in Watford .

Crime levels at this postcode are much higher than in the adjoining streets, suggesting that most neighbouring areas are relatively safer than this one.

The overall crime rate in the area around Water Lane (WD17 2AP) in the last 12 months was 874.0 per 1,000 residents and was 152.3% higher than the Central average (346.5 per 1,000 residents). In the last 12 months, this area’s most reported crimes were Shoplifting with 144 offences recorded. The least common crime was Possession of weapons with 2 cases , down -50.0% compared to 2025. The fastest-growing crime category was Bicycle theft ( 40.0% YoY). The sharpest decline was Possession of weapons ( -50.0% YoY).

Violent crimes totalled 113 (≈ 229.7 per 1,000 residents). Year-over-year these were falling ( -11.7% ). Over the last decade, overall crime has falling ( -83.5% comparing early vs recent averages) .

In the area around Water Lane (WD17 2AP), the main crime hotspot is near Shopping Area. Police recorded 274 crimes here, including 51 violent or public-order offences. All these locations are within roughly 0.3 miles.

View Crime In Watford

Crime Over Time in Water Lane area

Showing crimes within 0.3 miles (30/100)
Month:
MonthCrimeLocation*Last Outcome
Apr 2026Shoplifting Parking Area Investigation complete; no suspect identified
Apr 2026Anti-social behaviour New Road —
Apr 2026Theft from the person Shopping Area Under investigation
Apr 2026Shoplifting Parking Area Investigation complete; no suspect identified
Apr 2026Theft from the person Shopping Area Investigation complete; no suspect identified
Apr 2026Violence and sexual offences New Road Under investigation
Apr 2026Shoplifting New Road Investigation complete; no suspect identified
Apr 2026Shoplifting New Road Investigation complete; no suspect identified
Apr 2026Shoplifting New Road Investigation complete; no suspect identified
Apr 2026Shoplifting New Road Under investigation
Apr 2026Shoplifting New Road Investigation complete; no suspect identified
Apr 2026Vehicle crime Farthing Close Under investigation
Apr 2026Violence and sexual offences Tucker Street Under investigation
Apr 2026Robbery Farthing Close Investigation complete; no suspect identified
Apr 2026Other theft Farthing Close Investigation complete; no suspect identified
Apr 2026Theft from the person Shopping Area Under investigation
Apr 2026Anti-social behaviour St. Marys View —
Apr 2026Criminal damage and arson St. Marys View Awaiting court outcome
Apr 2026Shoplifting St. Marys View Under investigation
Apr 2026Violence and sexual offences Derby Road Under investigation
Apr 2026Violence and sexual offences St. Marys View Awaiting court outcome
Apr 2026Anti-social behaviour Parking Area —
Apr 2026Anti-social behaviour Local Board Road —
Apr 2026Burglary Shopping Area Under investigation
Apr 2026Violence and sexual offences Tucker Street Under investigation
Apr 2026Anti-social behaviour King Street —
Apr 2026Violence and sexual offences High Street Unable to prosecute suspect
Apr 2026Shoplifting Parking Area Investigation complete; no suspect identified
Apr 2026Shoplifting Shopping Area Under investigation
Apr 2026Shoplifting Shopping Area Under investigation
* on or near this location Page 1 • Showing 30 of 100

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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