Crime in Batchwood: statistics, rates and trends
511 crimes were recorded in Batchwood in the 12 months to August 2026, 66.1 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 5% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- 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
- Demographics of Batchwood
- Questions about crime in Batchwood
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (194), anti-social behaviour (113) and criminal damage and arson (42) made up 68% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 2,384th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lower half.
| Measure | Batchwood | St Albans | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 511 | 11,943 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 66.1 | 79.1 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -5% | -1% | -1% |
| Population | 7,732 | 151,012 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Batchwood peaked in the year to August 2021 (652 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2024 (474). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 19%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 511 | 66.1 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 538 | 69.6 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 474 | 61.3 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 521 | 67.4 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 517 | 66.9 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 652 | 84.3 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 546 | 70.6 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 604 | 78.1 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 627 | 81.1 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 42 |
| 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 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and other theft (42% below) and violence and sexual offences (27% below) were well below it. On the year before, anti-social behaviour fell from 144 to 113.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 194 | 25.1 | 34.2 | +1% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 113 | 14.6 | 15.4 | -22% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 42 | 5.4 | 6.7 | 0% |
| Vehicle crime | 30 | 3.9 | 5.0 | 0% |
| Other theft | 29 | 3.8 | 6.4 | +4% |
| Drugs | 28 | 3.6 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Shoplifting | 18 | 2.3 | 8.5 | n/a |
| Public order | 17 | 2.2 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Burglary | 13 | 1.7 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Other crime | 9 | 1.2 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Robbery | 6 | 0.8 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 5 | 0.6 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 4 | 0.5 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 3 | 0.4 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
5 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Batchwood; the highest is St Peters, St Albans (179.4 per 1,000) and the lowest Marshalswick East & Jersey Farm (48.1).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Batchwood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bernards Heath | 615 | 73.2 | +11% |
| St Peters | 1,675 | 179.4 | +171% |
| Marshalswick West | 189 | 53.6 | -19% |
| Verulam | 507 | 70.2 | +6% |
| Clarence | 456 | 56.4 | -15% |
| Sopwell | 907 | 115.7 | +75% |
| Marshalswick East & Jersey Farm | 450 | 48.1 | -27% |
| Cunningham | 867 | 100.0 | +51% |
The 10 locations below account for 41% of the crime recorded in Batchwood over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “High Oaks” (41).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near High Oaks | 41 |
| On or near Century Close | 30 |
| On or near Lavender Crescent | 25 |
| On or near Maple Avenue | 19 |
| On or near Temple View | 18 |
| On or near Lawrance Road | 17 |
| On or near Neville Close | 17 |
| On or near Falmouth Court | 15 |
| On or near Nicholas Close | 15 |
| On or near Dove Way | 14 |
Of the 398 crimes in Batchwood with a recorded outcome, 31% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 6.5% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 113 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 158 | 39.7% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 122 | 30.7% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 29 | 7.3% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 26 | 6.5% | 5.2% |
| Local resolution | 24 | 6.0% | 3.1% |
| Status update unavailable | 17 | 4.3% | 4.7% |
| Offender given a caution | 10 | 2.5% | 0.6% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 5 | 1.3% | 1.3% |
| Court result unavailable | 5 | 1.3% | 2.5% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.3% | 0.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.3% | 0.5% |
Batchwood has an estimated population of 7,732 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has more social housing (28%, against 17%), less private renting (10%, against 20%) and more residents with Level 4 qualifications or above (49%, against 34%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Batchwood average decile 6.9 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.
| Measure | Batchwood | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 22.0% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 14.3% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 62.5% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 3.4% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 16.4% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 7.3% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 48.9% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 12.8% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 16.2% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 62.3% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 27.5% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 10.1% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.9 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Batchwood a safe place to live?
Batchwood recorded 66.1 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 2,384th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Batchwood?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 194 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (113).
Is crime in Batchwood going up or down?
Recorded crime in Batchwood was down 5% on the year before: 511 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 538 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Batchwood?
About 7,732 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 14% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Batchwood?
Batchwood is policed by Hertfordshire.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.