Crime in East Hertfordshire: statistics, rates and trends

10,684 crimes were recorded in East Hertfordshire in the 12 months to July 2026, 68.1 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 3% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 3,787 reports (35% of the total).

Of the 308 districts covered by this site, East Hertfordshire has the 227th highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in East Hertfordshire was highest in the year to July 2019 (11,433 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2021 (9,659). Over the whole period it rose 2%, against a fall of 4% across England and Wales. Rates use today's population for every year, so they show the direction of change rather than exact historic rates.

Month by month

The table shows every category of crime recorded in East Hertfordshire over the 12 months to July 2026. The index compares the local rate with England and Wales: 1.00 is the national rate, 2.00 is double it. The largest increases were in drugs (+57%) and shoplifting (+19%). The largest falls were in bicycle theft (-26%) and burglary (-11%).

Violence and sexual offences in East Hertfordshire

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. East Hertfordshire recorded 3,787 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (24.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 7% on the year before. It made up 35.4% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in East Hertfordshire

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. East Hertfordshire recorded 2,413 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (15.4 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 3% on the year before. It made up 22.6% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in East Hertfordshire

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. East Hertfordshire recorded 743 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 19% on the year before. It made up 7.0% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in East Hertfordshire

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. East Hertfordshire recorded 716 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 3% on the year before. It made up 6.7% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in East Hertfordshire

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. East Hertfordshire recorded 648 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 4% on the year before. It made up 6.1% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in East Hertfordshire

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. East Hertfordshire recorded 602 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 10% on the year before. It made up 5.6% of all crime in the area.

Public order in East Hertfordshire

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. East Hertfordshire recorded 511 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 4.8% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in East Hertfordshire

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. East Hertfordshire recorded 384 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 11% on the year before. It made up 3.6% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in East Hertfordshire

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. East Hertfordshire recorded 376 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 57% on the year before. It made up 3.5% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in East Hertfordshire

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. East Hertfordshire recorded 206 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 6% on the year before. It made up 1.9% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in East Hertfordshire

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. East Hertfordshire recorded 80 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 16% on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in East Hertfordshire

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. East Hertfordshire recorded 77 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and down 1% on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in East Hertfordshire

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. East Hertfordshire recorded 72 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and up 6% on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in East Hertfordshire

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. East Hertfordshire recorded 69 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 26% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.

Crime rates in the districts closest to East Hertfordshire, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to East Hertfordshire.

44 areas within East Hertfordshire, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Hertford Castle had the highest rate (147.6 per 1,000) and Benington the lowest (28.2). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.

Police.uk records each crime at an approximate location, usually the centre of a nearby street or a landmark, to protect victims' privacy. These are the locations with the most reports in East Hertfordshire over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in East Hertfordshire over the 12 months to July 2026. Many cases are still open when the data is published, and anti-social behaviour has no outcome recorded, so these shares change as investigations finish.

East Hertfordshire has an estimated population of 156,875. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in East Hertfordshire sits in decile 8.0, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.

Figures are police-recorded crime published on data.police.uk, covering August 2017 to July 2026. Each crime is counted in the small area (LSOA) where it was recorded and added up to East Hertfordshire. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.