Crime in Welwyn Hatfield: statistics, rates and trends

11,992 crimes were recorded in Welwyn Hatfield in the 12 months to July 2026, 97.6 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 3% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 4,087 reports (34% of the total).

Of the 308 districts covered by this site, Welwyn Hatfield has the 108th highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in Welwyn Hatfield was highest in the year to July 2018 (12,999 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2024 (11,383). Over the whole period it fell 8%, 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 Welwyn Hatfield 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. Rates were well above the national level for anti-social behaviour, bicycle theft.

The largest increases were in drugs (+54%) and other crime (+15%). The largest falls were in theft from the person (-45%) and shoplifting (-22%).

Violence and sexual offences in Welwyn Hatfield

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Welwyn Hatfield recorded 4,087 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (33.3 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 3% on the year before. It made up 34.1% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Welwyn Hatfield

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Welwyn Hatfield recorded 2,560 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (20.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 6% on the year before. It made up 21.3% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Welwyn Hatfield

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Welwyn Hatfield recorded 1,007 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.2 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 22% on the year before. It made up 8.4% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Welwyn Hatfield

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Welwyn Hatfield recorded 774 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.3 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 6.5% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Welwyn Hatfield

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Welwyn Hatfield recorded 689 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.6 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 16% on the year before. It made up 5.7% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Welwyn Hatfield

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Welwyn Hatfield recorded 635 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 4% on the year before. It made up 5.3% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Welwyn Hatfield

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Welwyn Hatfield recorded 605 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 9% on the year before. It made up 5.0% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Welwyn Hatfield

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Welwyn Hatfield recorded 434 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.5 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 54% on the year before. It made up 3.6% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Welwyn Hatfield

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Welwyn Hatfield recorded 422 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.4 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 3.5% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Welwyn Hatfield

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Welwyn Hatfield recorded 266 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.2 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 15% on the year before. It made up 2.2% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Welwyn Hatfield

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Welwyn Hatfield recorded 182 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 1.5% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Welwyn Hatfield

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Welwyn Hatfield recorded 139 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 5% on the year before. It made up 1.2% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Welwyn Hatfield

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Welwyn Hatfield recorded 115 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 13% on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Welwyn Hatfield

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Welwyn Hatfield recorded 77 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 45% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.

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

24 areas within Welwyn Hatfield, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Handside had the highest rate (224.3 per 1,000) and Oaklands the lowest (25.5). 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 Welwyn Hatfield over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Welwyn Hatfield 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.

Welwyn Hatfield has an estimated population of 122,819. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Welwyn Hatfield sits in decile 6.8, 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 Welwyn Hatfield. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

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