Total Crime Rate
943.1 per 1,000
All offences · Oct 2024 - Sep 2025Water Lane area has the 4th highest crime rate of 32 local areas in Central , and the 5th highest crime rate of 275 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 2NH) in the last 12 months was 943.1 per 1,000 residents and was 170.2% higher than the Central average (349.0 per 1,000 residents). In the last 12 months, this area’s most reported crimes were Shoplifting with 135 offences recorded. The least common crime was Possession of weapons with 5 cases , up 66.7% compared to 2024. The fastest-growing crime category was Other crime ( 166.7% YoY). The sharpest decline was Shoplifting ( -42.1% YoY).
Violent crimes totalled 131 (≈ 266.3 per 1,000 residents). Year-over-year these were rising ( 32.3% ). Over the last decade, overall crime has falling ( -72.5% comparing early vs recent averages) .
In the area around Water Lane (WD17 2NH), the highest concentration of overall crime is near Parking Area, where police recorded 170 incidents. Violent and public-order offences occur most often near Local Board Road (38 offences). Both locations lie within roughly 0.3 miles of this postcode area.
View Crime In Central| Month | Crime | Location* | Last Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2025 | Anti-social behaviour | Watford Field Road | — |
| Sep 2025 | Other theft | Local Board Road | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| Sep 2025 | Violence and sexual offences | Local Board Road | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| Sep 2025 | Public order | Watford Field Road | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| Sep 2025 | Shoplifting | Local Board Road | Awaiting court outcome |
| Sep 2025 | Shoplifting | Local Board Road | Under investigation |
| Sep 2025 | Other theft | Local Board Road | Under investigation |
| Sep 2025 | Other theft | Local Board Road | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| Sep 2025 | Anti-social behaviour | Local Board Road | — |
| Sep 2025 | Shoplifting | Parking Area | Under investigation |
| Sep 2025 | Anti-social behaviour | Local Board Road | — |
| Sep 2025 | Shoplifting | Parking Area | Under investigation |
| Sep 2025 | Theft from the person | Parking Area | Under investigation |
| Sep 2025 | Violence and sexual offences | Parking Area | Under investigation |
| Sep 2025 | Violence and sexual offences | Parking Area | Under investigation |
| Sep 2025 | Violence and sexual offences | New Road | Under investigation |
| Sep 2025 | Shoplifting | Parking Area | Under investigation |
| Sep 2025 | Public order | Parking Area | Under investigation |
| Sep 2025 | Shoplifting | New Road | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| Sep 2025 | Burglary | Farthing Close | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| Sep 2025 | Anti-social behaviour | Smith Street | — |
| Sep 2025 | Other theft | Theatre/Concert Hall | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| Sep 2025 | Violence and sexual offences | Farthing Close | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| Sep 2025 | Shoplifting | Farthing Close | Awaiting court outcome |
| Sep 2025 | Shoplifting | Farthing Close | Awaiting court outcome |
| Sep 2025 | Criminal damage and arson | Farthing Close | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| Sep 2025 | Theft from the person | Parking Area | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| Sep 2025 | Public order | Smith Street | Under investigation |
| Sep 2025 | Shoplifting | Parking Area | Local resolution |
| Sep 2025 | Shoplifting | Parking Area | Under investigation |
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.