Crime in Batchwood: statistics, rates and trends
524 crimes were recorded in Batchwood in the 12 months to July 2026, 67.8 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and almost unchanged on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Batchwood at a glance
- Crime trends in Batchwood
- Types of crime in Batchwood
- Batchwood compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Batchwood
- What happened after crimes were reported in Batchwood
- Population and deprivation in Batchwood
- Questions about crime in Batchwood
- About this data
524 crimes were recorded in Batchwood in the 12 months to July 2026, 67.8 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and almost unchanged on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 199 reports (38% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Batchwood has the 2,325th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Batchwood | St Albans | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 524 | 11,959 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 67.8 | 79.2 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +0% | -1% | -1% |
| Population | 7,732 | 151,012 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Batchwood was highest in the year to July 2018 (649 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2024 (485). Over the whole period it fell 19%, 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.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to July 2026 | 524 | 67.8 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 524 | 67.8 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 485 | 62.7 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 516 | 66.7 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 541 | 70.0 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 634 | 82.0 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 548 | 70.9 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 586 | 75.8 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 649 | 83.9 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 47 |
| June 2026 | 53 |
| May 2026 | 24 |
| April 2026 | 39 |
| March 2026 | 31 |
| February 2026 | 40 |
| January 2026 | 43 |
| December 2025 | 52 |
| November 2025 | 62 |
| October 2025 | 41 |
| September 2025 | 37 |
| August 2025 | 55 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Batchwood 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 vehicle crime (+21%) and other theft (+11%).
The largest falls were in public order (-50%) and anti-social behaviour (-17%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 199 | 25.7 | 0.75 | +4% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 116 | 15.0 | 0.98 | -17% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 39 | 5.0 | 0.74 | -9% |
| Vehicle crime | 35 | 4.5 | 0.92 | +21% |
| Other theft | 30 | 3.9 | 0.61 | +11% |
| Drugs | 29 | 3.8 | 1.15 | +383% |
| Shoplifting | 20 | 2.6 | 0.31 | +54% |
| Public order | 16 | 2.1 | 0.31 | -50% |
| Burglary | 11 | 1.4 | 0.40 | -42% |
| Other crime | 10 | 1.3 | 0.61 | -29% |
| Possession of weapons | 7 | 0.9 | 0.93 | +75% |
| Robbery | 5 | 0.6 | 0.48 | -17% |
| Bicycle theft | 4 | 0.5 | 0.63 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 3 | 0.4 | 0.23 | +200% |
Violence and sexual offences in Batchwood
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Batchwood recorded 199 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (25.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 4% on the year before. It made up 38.0% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Batchwood
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Batchwood recorded 116 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (15.0 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 17% on the year before. It made up 22.1% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Batchwood
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Batchwood recorded 39 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 9% on the year before. It made up 7.4% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Batchwood
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Batchwood recorded 35 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.5 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 21% on the year before. It made up 6.7% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Batchwood
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Batchwood recorded 30 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 11% on the year before. It made up 5.7% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Batchwood
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Batchwood recorded 29 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.8 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 383% on the year before. It made up 5.5% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Batchwood
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Batchwood recorded 20 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 54% on the year before. It made up 3.8% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Batchwood
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Batchwood recorded 16 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 50% on the year before. It made up 3.1% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Batchwood
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Batchwood recorded 11 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 42% on the year before. It made up 2.1% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Batchwood
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Batchwood recorded 10 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 29% on the year before. It made up 1.9% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Batchwood
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Batchwood recorded 7 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 75% on the year before. It made up 1.3% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Batchwood
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Batchwood recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and down 17% on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Batchwood
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Batchwood recorded 4 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and with no comparable figure for the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Batchwood
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Batchwood recorded 3 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and up 200% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Batchwood, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Batchwood.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Batchwood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bernards Heath | 636 | 75.7 | +12% |
| St Peters | 1,690 | 181.0 | +167% |
| Marshalswick West | 203 | 57.5 | -15% |
| Verulam | 543 | 75.2 | +11% |
| Clarence | 442 | 54.7 | -19% |
| Sopwell | 912 | 116.4 | +72% |
| Marshalswick East & Jersey Farm | 444 | 47.4 | -30% |
| Cunningham | 917 | 105.8 | +56% |
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 Batchwood over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near High Oaks | 45 |
| On or near Century Close | 31 |
| On or near Lavender Crescent | 21 |
| On or near Maple Avenue | 19 |
| On or near Neville Close | 19 |
| On or near Lawrance Road | 17 |
| On or near Falmouth Court | 16 |
| On or near Nicholas Close | 15 |
| On or near Dove Way | 14 |
| On or near Green Lane | 14 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Batchwood 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.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 159 | 30.3% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 123 | 23.5% |
| Not recorded | 116 | 22.1% |
| Under investigation | 43 | 8.2% |
| Local resolution | 24 | 4.6% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 20 | 3.8% |
| Status update unavailable | 18 | 3.4% |
| Offender given a caution | 9 | 1.7% |
| Court result unavailable | 6 | 1.1% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 5 | 1.0% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.2% |
Batchwood has an estimated population of 7,732. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Batchwood sits in decile 6.9, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Batchwood |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 22.0% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 63.8% |
| Aged 65 and over | 14.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 62.3% |
| Social rented homes | 27.5% |
| Private rented homes | 10.1% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.9 |
Is Batchwood a safe place to live?
Batchwood recorded 67.8 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4. Crime is concentrated in a small number of places within most areas, often busy centres and transport hubs, so the rate for a single street can differ a lot from the area as a whole.
What is the most common crime in Batchwood?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 199 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (116).
Is crime in Batchwood going up or down?
Recorded crime in Batchwood was almost unchanged on the year before: 524 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 524 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Batchwood?
Batchwood is policed by Hertfordshire. Non-emergency crimes can be reported online to the force or by calling 101; in an emergency call 999.
How are these crime rates calculated?
Each rate is the number of crimes recorded by the police in the 12 months to July 2026, divided by the resident population and multiplied by 1,000. Crime data is from data.police.uk and population estimates are from the Office for National Statistics.
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 Batchwood. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.