Crime in Hempstead & Wigmore: statistics, rates and trends
499 crimes were recorded in Hempstead & Wigmore in the 12 months to July 2026, 51.9 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 4% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Hempstead & Wigmore at a glance
- Crime trends in Hempstead & Wigmore
- Types of crime in Hempstead & Wigmore
- Hempstead & Wigmore compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Hempstead & Wigmore
- What happened after crimes were reported in Hempstead & Wigmore
- Population and deprivation in Hempstead & Wigmore
- Questions about crime in Hempstead & Wigmore
- About this data
499 crimes were recorded in Hempstead & Wigmore in the 12 months to July 2026, 51.9 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 4% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 148 reports (30% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Hempstead & Wigmore has the 2,942nd highest crime rate.
| Measure | Hempstead & Wigmore | Medway | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 499 | 29,852 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 51.9 | 102.0 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +4% | -4% | -1% |
| Population | 9,610 | 292,655 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Hempstead & Wigmore was highest in the year to July 2018 (605 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2024 (450). Over the whole period it fell 18%, 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 | 499 | 51.9 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 480 | 49.9 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 450 | 46.8 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 480 | 49.9 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 457 | 47.6 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 459 | 47.8 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 494 | 51.4 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 495 | 51.5 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 605 | 63.0 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 57 |
| June 2026 | 46 |
| May 2026 | 46 |
| April 2026 | 43 |
| March 2026 | 45 |
| February 2026 | 55 |
| January 2026 | 35 |
| December 2025 | 38 |
| November 2025 | 41 |
| October 2025 | 36 |
| September 2025 | 26 |
| August 2025 | 31 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Hempstead & Wigmore 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 shoplifting (+57%) and criminal damage and arson (+46%). The largest falls were in other crime (-55%) and drugs (-41%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 148 | 15.4 | 0.45 | -12% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 114 | 11.9 | 0.77 | +34% |
| Shoplifting | 77 | 8.0 | 0.97 | +57% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 41 | 4.3 | 0.63 | +46% |
| Other theft | 33 | 3.4 | 0.54 | -8% |
| Vehicle crime | 24 | 2.5 | 0.51 | -23% |
| Public order | 15 | 1.6 | 0.23 | +0% |
| Drugs | 13 | 1.4 | 0.41 | -41% |
| Burglary | 11 | 1.1 | 0.32 | -39% |
| Other crime | 9 | 0.9 | 0.44 | -55% |
| Possession of weapons | 6 | 0.6 | 0.64 | +200% |
| Bicycle theft | 4 | 0.4 | 0.51 | n/a |
| Robbery | 2 | 0.2 | 0.15 | +0% |
| Theft from the person | 2 | 0.2 | 0.12 | -33% |
Violence and sexual offences in Hempstead & Wigmore
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Hempstead & Wigmore recorded 148 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (15.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 12% on the year before. It made up 29.7% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Hempstead & Wigmore
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Hempstead & Wigmore recorded 114 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (11.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 34% on the year before. It made up 22.8% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Hempstead & Wigmore
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Hempstead & Wigmore recorded 77 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.0 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 57% on the year before. It made up 15.4% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Hempstead & Wigmore
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Hempstead & Wigmore recorded 41 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 46% on the year before. It made up 8.2% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Hempstead & Wigmore
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Hempstead & Wigmore recorded 33 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 6.6% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Hempstead & Wigmore
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Hempstead & Wigmore recorded 24 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 23% on the year before. It made up 4.8% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Hempstead & Wigmore
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Hempstead & Wigmore recorded 15 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 3.0% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Hempstead & Wigmore
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Hempstead & Wigmore recorded 13 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 41% on the year before. It made up 2.6% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Hempstead & Wigmore
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Hempstead & Wigmore recorded 11 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 39% on the year before. It made up 2.2% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Hempstead & Wigmore
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Hempstead & Wigmore recorded 9 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 55% on the year before. It made up 1.8% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Hempstead & Wigmore
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Hempstead & Wigmore recorded 6 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 200% on the year before. It made up 1.2% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Hempstead & Wigmore
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Hempstead & Wigmore recorded 4 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 with no comparable figure for the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Hempstead & Wigmore
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Hempstead & Wigmore recorded 2 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Hempstead & Wigmore
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Hempstead & Wigmore recorded 2 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 33% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Hempstead & Wigmore, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Hempstead & Wigmore.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Hempstead & Wigmore |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rainham South East | 673 | 49.2 | -5% |
| Rainham South West | 551 | 58.7 | +13% |
| Princes Park | 644 | 63.2 | +22% |
| Lordswood & Walderslade | 774 | 55.2 | +6% |
| Twydall | 704 | 77.7 | +50% |
| Rainham North | 960 | 64.5 | +24% |
| Watling | 1,961 | 122.4 | +136% |
| Luton | 1,437 | 138.8 | +167% |
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 Hempstead & Wigmore over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Shopping Area | 108 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 34 |
| On or near Supermarket | 29 |
| On or near Parking Area | 24 |
| On or near Sherlodge Mews | 22 |
| On or near Pear Tree Lane | 15 |
| On or near Waters Place | 13 |
| On or near Cedar Grove | 10 |
| On or near Foulds Close | 10 |
| On or near Mulberry Close | 9 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Hempstead & Wigmore 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 179 | 35.9% |
| Not recorded | 114 | 22.8% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 110 | 22.0% |
| Under investigation | 33 | 6.6% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 19 | 3.8% |
| Status update unavailable | 19 | 3.8% |
| Local resolution | 9 | 1.8% |
| Offender given a caution | 6 | 1.2% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 5 | 1.0% |
| Court result unavailable | 5 | 1.0% |
Hempstead & Wigmore has an estimated population of 9,610. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Hempstead & Wigmore sits in decile 9.5, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Hempstead & Wigmore |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 15.9% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 53.9% |
| Aged 65 and over | 30.2% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 89.3% |
| Social rented homes | 1.0% |
| Private rented homes | 9.7% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 9.5 |
Is Hempstead & Wigmore a safe place to live?
Hempstead & Wigmore recorded 51.9 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 Hempstead & Wigmore?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 148 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (114).
Is crime in Hempstead & Wigmore going up or down?
Recorded crime in Hempstead & Wigmore was up 4% on the year before: 499 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 480 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Hempstead & Wigmore?
Hempstead & Wigmore is policed by Kent. 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 Hempstead & Wigmore. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.