Total Crime Rate
874.0 per 1,000
All offences · May 2025 - Apr 2026Violent Crime Rate
229.7 per 1,000
May 2025 - Apr 2026The Harlequin 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 The Harlequin (WD17 2WH) 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 The Harlequin (WD17 2WH), the main crime hotspot is near Parking Area. Police recorded 374 crimes here, including 90 violent or public-order offences. All these locations are within roughly 0.3 miles.
View Crime In Watford| Month | Crime | Location* | Last Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2026 | Anti-social behaviour | Parking Area | — |
| Apr 2026 | Shoplifting | New Road | Under investigation |
| Apr 2026 | Criminal damage and arson | Loates Lane | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| Apr 2026 | Violence and sexual offences | Parking Area | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| Apr 2026 | Burglary | Lower Derby Road | Under investigation |
| Apr 2026 | Violence and sexual offences | New Street | Under investigation |
| Apr 2026 | Vehicle crime | New Street | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| Apr 2026 | Anti-social behaviour | New Street | — |
| Apr 2026 | Violence and sexual offences | New Road | Under investigation |
| Apr 2026 | Shoplifting | New Road | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| Apr 2026 | Shoplifting | New Road | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| Apr 2026 | Shoplifting | New Road | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| Apr 2026 | Shoplifting | New Road | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| Apr 2026 | Drugs | High Street | Under investigation |
| Apr 2026 | Anti-social behaviour | New Road | — |
| Apr 2026 | Violence and sexual offences | Shopping Area | Under investigation |
| Apr 2026 | Burglary | Parking Area | Under investigation |
| Apr 2026 | Other theft | Parking Area | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| Apr 2026 | Public order | Parking Area | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| Apr 2026 | Anti-social behaviour | Parking Area | — |
| Apr 2026 | Other theft | Parking Area | Under investigation |
| Apr 2026 | Other theft | Parking Area | Under investigation |
| Apr 2026 | Public order | Parking Area | Under investigation |
| Apr 2026 | Shoplifting | Parking Area | Under investigation |
| Apr 2026 | Drugs | High Street | Under investigation |
| Apr 2026 | Drugs | High Street | Local resolution |
| Apr 2026 | Shoplifting | Parking Area | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| Apr 2026 | Shoplifting | Loates Lane | Under investigation |
| Apr 2026 | Violence and sexual offences | Derby Road | Under investigation |
| Apr 2026 | Shoplifting | Shopping 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.