Crime Rate in Central: Trends, Hotspots

Overview of Crime in Central

The total recorded crimes in Central, Watford, UK in May 2025 are around 800 as per the recent police data. This equates to a Central crime rate of 0.84 per 1,000 population.

It's important to note that this crime data is based on the Geographic Boundry data provided by the ONS around Central, encompassing approximately 958,037 residents.

Most occured crime Types

The most prevalent crimes in the area during May were:

  • Violence and sexual offences: (215) incidents (4.37% increase)
  • Anti-social behaviour: (180) incidents (80.00% increase)
  • Shoplifting: (135) incidents (50.00% increase)
Central Crime Hotspots

The surrounding areas of below locations have emerged as crime hotspots,

  • New Road with total crimes: 60
  • Shopping Area with total crimes: 54
  • Parking Area with total crimes: 48

How safe is Central?

To understand the safety of Central, we need to analyze Central crime statistics in relation to regional averages. Lets examine the available data and provide a balanced assessment.

  • Relative to Watford:

    • In 2024, Central reported a higher crime volume than the Watford average, with 10,611 crimes compared to 1,602. This indicates a potentially challenging safety environment in the region for the year. Furthermore, Central witnessed more crimes than 11 out of 11 other areas in the Watford.

    • In 2023, Central experienced a greater number of crimes than the Watford average, with 10,163 crimes compared to 1,447. This indicates a higher crime burden for the area in the region during this period. Furthermore, Central witnessed more crimes than 11 out of 11 other areas in the Watford.

  • Overall Assessment:

    • Compared to other areas in Watford, Central has a higher crime rate and is considered more dangerous in 2024.

    • The trend in crime rates suggests Negative changes in overall safety.

Central Crime Statstics

In May 2025 the Central has recorded 800 crimes with crime rate of 0.47 ranking 1th out of 11 in the Watford, UK

In 2024, the total Central crimes were 10,611. The crime rate of Central in 2024 was 28.76 (year) or 2.40 (month) ranking it 1 dangerous area in the Watford.

In 2023, the total crimes in Central were around 10,163 crimes with yearly crime rate of 24.92 (year) or 2.08 (month) ranking 1 most dangerous area in the Watford.

AreaMay 202520242023
CrimesRank (Central)CrimesRank (Central)CrimesRank (Central)
Park79 41,313 21,126 2
Holywell102 21,198 3786 5
Woodside73 5803 7823 3
Vicarage89 31,051 4802 4
Meriden68 7904 5753 6
Callowland71 6833 6670 7
Oxhey31 12514 9488 8
Leggatts54 8615 8467 10
Tudor31 11476 10477 9
Nascot39 9465 11381 12
Stanborough32 10443 12426 11

Central Crime Map

Detailed Crime Data Analysis

Monthly Trends

In May 2025, Violence and sexual offences dominated crime reports (215 incidents), followed by Anti-social behaviour also remained a significant concern (180 incidents).

Recorded incidents of Violence and sexual offences were the most frequent (206 incidents) were the most common in April 2025, with There was a large number of incidents involving Anti-social behaviour (100 incidents) also being high.

For March 2025 , the most reported crimes were Most crimes reported were Violence and sexual offences (197 incidents) and then Anti-social behaviour showed a substantial number of incidents (191 incidents).

February 2025 crime data shows Shoplifting saw the largest number of reported crimes with 246 incidents, and Anti-social behaviour was another prevalent crime category with 150 incidents.

During January 2025, The highest incident rate was for Violence and sexual offences (214 reports) and Anti-social behaviour incidents were also notably high (196 cases).

December 2024 crime data shows Violence and sexual offences saw the largest number of reported crimes with 206 incidents, and Shoplifting was another prevalent crime category with 139 incidents.

During November 2024, The highest incident rate was for Violence and sexual offences (169 reports) and Shoplifting incidents were also notably high (166 cases).

In October 2024, Anti-social behaviour dominated crime reports (155 incidents), followed by Violence and sexual offences also remained a significant concern (143 incidents).

Recorded incidents of Shoplifting were the most frequent (185 incidents) were the most common in September 2024, with There was a large number of incidents involving Violence and sexual offences (165 incidents) also being high.

For August 2024 , the most reported crimes were Most crimes reported were Anti-social behaviour (203 incidents) and then Shoplifting showed a substantial number of incidents (201 incidents).

July 2024 crime data shows Shoplifting saw the largest number of reported crimes with 228 incidents, and Anti-social behaviour was another prevalent crime category with 175 incidents.

During June 2024, The highest incident rate was for Violence and sexual offences (354 reports) and Anti-social behaviour incidents were also notably high (326 cases).

In May 2024, Violence and sexual offences dominated crime reports (185 incidents), followed by Anti-social behaviour also remained a significant concern (182 incidents).

Crime TypeCountCrime RateChange

Crime by Type

A total of 2523 Violence and sexual offences incidents were recorded over 13 month period, averaging 194.08 incidents per month. June 2024 saw the highest number of Violence and sexual offences incidents with 354 reported cases.

MonthCount
May 2025215
April 2025206
March 2025197
February 2025136
January 2025214
December 2024206
November 2024169
October 2024143
September 2024165
August 2024184
July 2024149
June 2024354
May 2024185

A total of 2215 Anti-social behaviour incidents were recorded over 13 month period, averaging 170.38 incidents per month. June 2024 saw the highest number of Anti-social behaviour incidents with 326 reported cases.

MonthCount
May 2025180
April 2025100
March 2025191
February 2025150
January 2025196
December 2024105
November 2024129
October 2024155
September 2024123
August 2024203
July 2024175
June 2024326
May 2024182

A total of 702 Public order incidents were recorded over 13 month period, averaging 54.00 incidents per month. June 2024 saw the highest number of Public order incidents with 106 reported cases.

MonthCount
May 202565
April 202536
March 202555
February 202557
January 202559
December 202435
November 202461
October 202450
September 202446
August 202440
July 202446
June 2024106
May 202446

A total of 279 Drugs incidents were recorded over 13 month period, averaging 21.46 incidents per month. June 2024 saw the highest number of Drugs incidents with 52 reported cases.

MonthCount
May 202527
April 202536
March 202519
February 202524
January 202537
December 202417
November 202413
October 20245
September 202418
August 20244
July 202412
June 202452
May 202415

A total of 133 Other crime incidents were recorded over 13 month period, averaging 11.08 incidents per month. April 2025 saw the highest number of Other crime incidents with 20 reported cases.

MonthCount
May 202515
April 202520
March 202510
February 20259
December 20249
November 202412
October 202417
September 20244
August 20245
July 20241
June 202412
May 202419

A total of 463 Vehicle crime incidents were recorded over 13 month period, averaging 35.62 incidents per month. June 2024 saw the highest number of Vehicle crime incidents with 118 reported cases.

MonthCount
May 202519
April 202532
March 202568
February 202513
January 202521
December 202417
November 202429
October 202427
September 202416
August 202457
July 202429
June 2024118
May 202417

A total of 665 Other theft incidents were recorded over 13 month period, averaging 51.15 incidents per month. June 2024 saw the highest number of Other theft incidents with 92 reported cases.

MonthCount
May 202560
April 202555
March 202531
February 202546
January 202517
December 202422
November 202456
October 202476
September 202452
August 202445
July 202445
June 202492
May 202468

A total of 241 Burglary incidents were recorded over 13 month period, averaging 18.54 incidents per month. January 2025 saw the highest number of Burglary incidents with 34 reported cases.

MonthCount
May 202517
April 202512
March 202522
February 202521
January 202534
December 202433
November 202410
October 202422
September 202413
August 202416
July 20244
June 202430
May 20247

A total of 194 Bicycle theft incidents were recorded over 13 month period, averaging 14.92 incidents per month. May 2024 saw the highest number of Bicycle theft incidents with 28 reported cases.

MonthCount
May 202514
April 202511
March 202516
February 20257
January 20251
December 20244
November 20242
October 202419
September 202419
August 202424
July 202425
June 202424
May 202428

A total of 2161 Shoplifting incidents were recorded over 13 month period, averaging 166.23 incidents per month. February 2025 saw the highest number of Shoplifting incidents with 246 reported cases.

MonthCount
May 2025135
April 202590
March 2025150
February 2025246
January 2025150
December 2024139
November 2024166
October 2024102
September 2024185
August 2024201
July 2024228
June 2024244
May 2024125

A total of 477 Theft from the person incidents were recorded over 13 month period, averaging 36.69 incidents per month. November 2024 saw the highest number of Theft from the person incidents with 91 reported cases.

MonthCount
May 202510
April 202522
March 202534
February 202533
January 202533
December 202412
November 202491
October 202469
September 202458
August 202423
July 202429
June 202434
May 202429

A total of 321 Robbery incidents were recorded over 13 month period, averaging 24.69 incidents per month. June 2024 saw the highest number of Robbery incidents with 60 reported cases.

MonthCount
May 20254
April 20256
March 202514
February 202517
January 202530
December 202445
November 202422
October 202427
September 202410
August 202427
July 202432
June 202460
May 202427

A total of 502 Criminal damage and arson incidents were recorded over 13 month period, averaging 38.62 incidents per month. June 2024 saw the highest number of Criminal damage and arson incidents with 60 reported cases.

MonthCount
May 202532
April 202548
March 202547
February 202523
January 202531
December 202437
November 202444
October 202433
September 202429
August 202441
July 202447
June 202460
May 202430

A total of 137 Possession of weapons incidents were recorded over 13 month period, averaging 10.54 incidents per month. October 2024 saw the highest number of Possession of weapons incidents with 22 reported cases.

MonthCount
May 20257
April 202521
March 202517
February 20253
January 202512
December 20243
November 20242
October 202422
September 202411
August 202417
July 20243
June 202418
May 20241

High Crime Locations Central in May 2025

A detailed breakdown of crime incidents by location within the Central postcode area is presented below.

1. New Road (Map)
Total60
Violence and sexual offences30
Shoplifting18
Criminal damage and arson12
2. Shopping Area (Map)
Total54
Shoplifting24
Anti-social behaviour6
Bicycle theft6
Public order6
Theft from the person6
Violence and sexual offences6
3. Parking Area (Map)
Total48
Other theft18
Shoplifting18
Other crime6
Violence and sexual offences6
4. Local Board Road (Map)
Total45
Shoplifting12
Violence and sexual offences12
Anti-social behaviour9
Other theft6
Public order3
Vehicle crime3
5. Shopping Area (Map)
Total36
Shoplifting18
Anti-social behaviour12
Violence and sexual offences6
6. Parking Area (Map)
Total30
Shoplifting18
Anti-social behaviour6
Public order6
7. St. Marys View (Map)
Total27
Anti-social behaviour21
Other crime3
Public order3
8. Brocklesbury Close (Map)
Total24
Burglary6
Criminal damage and arson6
Other theft6
Violence and sexual offences6
9. Watford High Street (Map)
Total24
Anti-social behaviour9
Drugs9
Criminal damage and arson3
Violence and sexual offences3
10. Nightclub (Map)
Total21
Violence and sexual offences9
Anti-social behaviour6
Public order3
Vehicle crime3

  • Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2021. This data is licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  • Contains Office for National Statistics data licensed under the Open Government Licence v.3.0
  • Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.