Crime in Stevenage district: statistics, rates and trends
10,907 crimes were recorded in Stevenage district in the 12 months to August 2026, 118.8 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 11% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Stevenage district at a glance
- Crime trends in Stevenage district
- Types of crime in Stevenage district
- Home Office recorded crime in Stevenage district
- Stevenage district compared with nearby districts
- Areas within Stevenage district
- Streets with the most crime in Stevenage district
- What happened after crimes were reported in Stevenage district
- Demographics of Stevenage district
- Fly-tipping in Stevenage
- Questions about crime in Stevenage district
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (4,288), anti-social behaviour (1,839) and shoplifting (931) made up 65% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 51st of the 302 districts covered by this site (1 = highest), in the highest quarter.
| Measure | Stevenage district | Hertfordshire | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 10,907 | 106,430 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 118.8 | 86.1 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +11% | +1% | -1% |
| Population | 91,774 | 1,236,191 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Stevenage district peaked in the year to August 2018 (11,561 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2024 (9,072). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 6%, in line with England and Wales.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 10,907 | 118.8 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 9,851 | 107.3 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 9,072 | 98.9 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 9,457 | 103.0 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 10,568 | 115.2 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 10,254 | 111.7 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 10,770 | 117.4 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 11,447 | 124.7 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 11,561 | 126.0 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 1,011 |
| July 2026 | 1,078 |
| June 2026 | 929 |
| May 2026 | 948 |
| April 2026 | 873 |
| March 2026 | 974 |
| February 2026 | 812 |
| January 2026 | 837 |
| December 2025 | 850 |
| November 2025 | 792 |
| October 2025 | 908 |
| September 2025 | 895 |
Compared with England and Wales, Stevenage district recorded notably more bicycle theft (64% above the national rate), violence and sexual offences (37% above the national rate) and drugs (35% above the national rate), and notably less theft from the person (55% below) and burglary (35% below). On the year before, drugs rose from 243 to 405 and bicycle theft rose from 80 to 124, while theft from the person fell from 88 to 70.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 4,288 | 46.7 | 34.2 | +16% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 1,839 | 20.0 | 15.4 | -9% |
| Shoplifting | 931 | 10.1 | 8.5 | +25% |
| Public order | 762 | 8.3 | 6.7 | +14% |
| Other theft | 718 | 7.8 | 6.4 | -6% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 708 | 7.7 | 6.7 | +3% |
| Vehicle crime | 426 | 4.6 | 5.0 | +40% |
| Drugs | 405 | 4.4 | 3.3 | +67% |
| Other crime | 226 | 2.5 | 2.1 | +20% |
| Burglary | 212 | 2.3 | 3.6 | +3% |
| Bicycle theft | 124 | 1.4 | 0.8 | +55% |
| Robbery | 102 | 1.1 | 1.4 | +55% |
| Possession of weapons | 96 | 1.0 | 1.0 | -2% |
| Theft from the person | 70 | 0.8 | 1.7 | -20% |
What each category covers: crime categories.
8,607 crimes, excluding fraud, were recorded by the police in Stevenage district in the year ending March 2026, according to the Home Office's police recorded crime statistics. That is 93.8 per 1,000 residents, close to the England and Wales rate of 83.2. The total was up 15% on the year ending March 2025 (7,459), against a fall of 2% across England and Wales. Among the 272 districts of England and Wales with a figure for that year, Stevenage district had the 66th highest rate (the street-level ranking above is among the 302 districts with street-level pages on this site, over the 12 months to August 2026).
Of the crimes recorded in the Hertfordshire Police area in the year ending March 2026, 1.4% were not assigned to a district. Those crimes are counted in the force and England and Wales totals but in no district, so the figure for Stevenage district is a slight undercount.
Offences recorded in Stevenage district, the year ending March 2026
The largest category was violence without injury, with 1,597 offences (19% of the total). Relative to England and Wales, rates were highest for bicycle theft (1.4 times the national rate), violence without injury (1.3 times the national rate) and stalking and harassment (1.3 times the national rate). Rates were lowest relative to the national rate for robbery of personal property (0.49 times), theft from the person (0.52 times) and non-residential burglary (0.55 times).
The largest rises on the year were in trafficking of drugs (+82%) and vehicle offences (+58%). Robbery of business property and shoplifting are not compared with the year ending March 2025: from April 2025 the Home Office Counting Rules were clarified so that a theft from a shop in which violence is used or threatened against staff or anyone else is recorded as robbery of business property rather than shoplifting (ONS).
| Offence | Offences | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on 2024/25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence without injury | 1,597 | 17.4 | 13.2 | 1.32 | +16% |
| Stalking and harassment | 1,161 | 12.7 | 10.1 | 1.25 | +31% |
| Violence with injury | 907 | 9.9 | 8.1 | 1.21 | −1% |
| Shoplifting | 786 | 8.6 | 8.1 | 1.05 | – |
| Public order offences | 754 | 8.2 | 7.0 | 1.18 | +18% |
| Other theft offences | 752 | 8.2 | 6.5 | 1.25 | −3% |
| Criminal damage | 723 | 7.9 | 6.8 | 1.15 | +16% |
| Vehicle offences | 424 | 4.6 | 5.0 | 0.92 | +58% |
| Possession of drugs | 273 | 3.0 | 2.5 | 1.19 | +41% |
| Other sexual offences | 260 | 2.8 | 2.3 | 1.24 | +15% |
| Miscellaneous crimes against society | 177 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 0.92 | −9% |
| Residential burglary | 142 | 1.5 | 2.5 | 0.62 | +15% |
| Rape | 131 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 1.18 | +25% |
| Bicycle theft | 110 | 1.2 | 0.85 | 1.40 | +18% |
| Theft from the person | 84 | 0.92 | 1.8 | 0.52 | +2% |
| Possession of weapons | 79 | 0.86 | 1.00 | 0.86 | −5% |
| Trafficking of drugs | 73 | 0.80 | 1.2 | 0.67 | +82% |
| Non-residential burglary | 56 | 0.61 | 1.1 | 0.55 | −10% |
| Robbery of business property | 49 | 0.53 | 0.47 | 1.12 | – |
| Robbery of personal property | 41 | 0.45 | 0.91 | 0.49 | +14% |
| Arson | 24 | 0.26 | 0.38 | 0.69 | −8% |
| Death or serious injury caused by unlawful driving | 4 | 0.04 | 0.03 | 1.25 | −20% |
| Homicide | 0 | 0.00 | 0.01 | 0.00 | −100% |
Recorded crime in Stevenage district since the year ending March 2013
The chart shows police recorded crime per 1,000 residents in each year ending March from 2013 to 2026. Stevenage district's rate was above the England and Wales rate in 11 of those 14 years and below it in 3. Changes in how forces record crime move these figures as well as changes in crime (methodology).
| Year ending March | Offences | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 8,607 | 93.8 | 83.2 |
| 2025 | 7,459 | 81.3 | 84.5 |
| 2024 | 6,824 | 74.4 | 86.2 |
| 2023 | 7,757 | 84.5 | 89.2 |
| 2022 | 8,202 | 89.4 | 85.4 |
| 2021 | 7,377 | 80.4 | 74.1 |
| 2020 | 8,529 | 92.9 | 84.7 |
| 2019 | 8,794 | 95.8 | 84.1 |
| 2018 | 8,657 | 94.3 | 78.2 |
| 2017 | 8,120 | 88.5 | 69.1 |
| 2016 | 6,713 | 73.1 | 62.3 |
| 2015 | 5,902 | 64.3 | 57.1 |
| 2014 | 5,680 | 61.9 | 55.9 |
| 2013 | 5,455 | 59.4 | 56.7 |
Districts in the Hertfordshire Police area, the year ending March 2026
Of the 10 districts in the Hertfordshire Police area with a figure for the year ending March 2026, Stevenage district had the highest rate.
| District | Offences | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stevenage | 8,607 | 93.8 | 1.13 |
| Watford | 9,296 | 86.7 | 1.04 |
| Welwyn Hatfield | 9,546 | 77.7 | 0.93 |
| Broxbourne | 7,410 | 72.7 | 0.87 |
| Hertsmere | 7,919 | 71.9 | 0.86 |
| Dacorum | 10,641 | 65.9 | 0.79 |
| St Albans | 9,700 | 64.2 | 0.77 |
| Three Rivers | 5,019 | 52.4 | 0.63 |
| East Hertfordshire | 8,104 | 51.7 | 0.62 |
| North Hertfordshire | 6,796 | 49.5 | 0.60 |
Source: Home Office police recorded crime and outcomes open data tables (released 23 July 2026), gov.uk, Open Government Licence v3.0. Financial years, excluding fraud; how they differ from the street-level figures: methodology.
Stevenage district has a higher crime rate than all 8 of its nearest districts.
| District | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Stevenage district |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Hertfordshire | 9,152 | 66.7 | -44% |
| Welwyn Hatfield | 12,131 | 98.8 | -17% |
| East Hertfordshire | 10,712 | 68.3 | -43% |
| Luton | 22,028 | 92.1 | -22% |
| St Albans | 11,943 | 79.1 | -33% |
| Central Bedfordshire | 19,387 | 61.4 | -48% |
| Broxbourne | 9,638 | 94.6 | -20% |
| Harlow | 10,925 | 111.2 | -6% |
Of the 14 areas within Stevenage district, Bedwell had the highest crime rate (284.1 per 1,000) and Manor the lowest (47.9), 6 times apart.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bedwell | Neighbourhood | 8,824 | 2,507 | 284.1 |
| Roebuck | Neighbourhood | 7,401 | 1,389 | 187.7 |
| Woodfield | Neighbourhood | 5,965 | 1,057 | 177.2 |
| Almond Hill | Neighbourhood | 9,386 | 1,254 | 133.6 |
| Stevenage | Town | 95,006 | 10,934 | 115.1 |
| Old Town | Neighbourhood | 4,566 | 508 | 111.3 |
| Shephall | Neighbourhood | 6,552 | 614 | 93.7 |
| Bandley Hill & Poplars | Neighbourhood | 6,926 | 610 | 88.1 |
| Symonds Green | Neighbourhood | 6,373 | 555 | 87.1 |
| Chells | Neighbourhood | 8,672 | 690 | 79.6 |
| St Nicholas | Neighbourhood | 6,874 | 519 | 75.5 |
| Martins Wood | Neighbourhood | 6,633 | 443 | 66.8 |
| Longmeadow | Neighbourhood | 5,981 | 396 | 66.2 |
| Manor | Neighbourhood | 7,621 | 365 | 47.9 |
The 10 locations below account for 35% of the crime recorded in Stevenage district over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Parking Area” (1,324).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 1,324 |
| On or near Supermarket | 716 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 414 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 320 |
| On or near Monkswood Way | 267 |
| On or near Police Station | 223 |
| On or near Nightclub | 187 |
| On or near Hospital | 160 |
| On or near Sports/Recreation Area | 122 |
| On or near Further/Higher Educational Building | 97 |
Of the 9,068 crimes in Stevenage district with a recorded outcome, 29% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 7.1% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 1,839 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 3,333 | 36.8% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 2,585 | 28.5% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 1,106 | 12.2% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 646 | 7.1% | 5.2% |
| Local resolution | 463 | 5.1% | 3.1% |
| Status update unavailable | 419 | 4.6% | 4.7% |
| Court result unavailable | 197 | 2.2% | 2.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 138 | 1.5% | 0.6% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 64 | 0.7% | 0.3% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 54 | 0.6% | 1.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 27 | 0.3% | 0.5% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 26 | 0.3% | 0.3% |
Stevenage district has an estimated population of 91,774 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has more social housing (26%, against 17%), fewer students (5.7%, against 7.9%) and less private renting (15%, against 20%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Stevenage district average decile 5.3 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Stevenage district | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 20.2% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 15.7% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 63.8% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 3.3% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 18.1% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 5.7% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 29.6% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 17.0% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 20.2% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 58.7% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 26.3% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 15.0% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.3 | 5.5 (England) |
3,058 fly-tipping incidents were recorded in Stevenage in 2024/25 (33.3 per 1,000 residents, against 21.1 across the councils in England that count all incidents), according to the council's return to Defra. Fly-tipping is not in the police figures on this page: fly-tipping in Stevenage has the council's figures by place, type of waste and size, and its enforcement actions and fines.
Is Stevenage district a safe place to live?
Stevenage district recorded 118.8 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 51st of the 302 districts on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were bicycle theft and violence and sexual offences.
What is the most common crime in Stevenage district?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 4,288 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (1,839).
Is crime in Stevenage district going up or down?
Recorded crime in Stevenage district was up 11% on the year before: 10,907 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 9,851 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Stevenage district?
About 91,774 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 16% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Stevenage district?
Stevenage district is policed by Hertfordshire.
How many crimes did the police record in Stevenage district in the year ending March 2026?
8,607 crimes, excluding fraud, in the Home Office's police recorded crime statistics: 93.8 per 1,000 residents, against 83.2 across England and Wales. In the year ending March 2025 the figure was 7,459.
Which offences are more common in Stevenage district than across England and Wales?
Relative to the national rate, the most over-represented categories in the year ending March 2026 were bicycle theft (110 offences, 1.4 times the England and Wales rate), violence without injury (1,597 offences, 1.3 times the England and Wales rate) and stalking and harassment (1,161 offences, 1.3 times the England and Wales rate).
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.