Crime in Sopwell: statistics, rates and trends
907 crimes were recorded in Sopwell in the 12 months to August 2026, 115.7 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 14% on the year before.
Table of Contents
Crime map
Anti-social behaviour (236), violence and sexual offences (195) and shoplifting (142) made up 63% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 901st of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the highest quarter.
| Measure | Sopwell | St Albans | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 907 | 11,943 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 115.7 | 79.1 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +14% | -1% | -1% |
| Population | 7,838 | 151,012 | 58,127,638 |
The year to August 2026 had the most recorded crime in Sopwell of any year here (907 crimes). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it rose 2%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 907 | 115.7 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 799 | 101.9 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 772 | 98.5 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 783 | 99.9 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 721 | 92.0 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 690 | 88.0 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 558 | 71.2 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 741 | 94.5 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 886 | 113.0 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 91 |
| July 2026 | 76 |
| June 2026 | 78 |
| May 2026 | 109 |
| April 2026 | 89 |
| March 2026 | 68 |
| February 2026 | 74 |
| January 2026 | 67 |
| December 2025 | 49 |
| November 2025 | 54 |
| October 2025 | 78 |
| September 2025 | 74 |
Compared with England and Wales, Sopwell recorded notably more shoplifting (2.1 times the national rate), anti-social behaviour (2.0 times the national rate) and other theft (94% above the national rate), and notably less public order (39% below) and violence and sexual offences (27% below). On the year before, shoplifting rose from 99 to 142 and other theft rose from 70 to 98, while vehicle crime fell from 74 to 46.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anti-social behaviour | 236 | 30.1 | 15.4 | +29% |
| Violence and sexual offences | 195 | 24.9 | 34.2 | +1% |
| Shoplifting | 142 | 18.1 | 8.5 | +43% |
| Other theft | 98 | 12.5 | 6.4 | +40% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 54 | 6.9 | 6.7 | -7% |
| Vehicle crime | 46 | 5.9 | 5.0 | -38% |
| Burglary | 38 | 4.8 | 3.6 | +3% |
| Public order | 32 | 4.1 | 6.7 | -6% |
| Drugs | 20 | 2.6 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Other crime | 16 | 2.0 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 13 | 1.7 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Robbery | 8 | 1.0 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 5 | 0.6 | 1.7 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 4 | 0.5 | 1.0 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
1 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Sopwell; the highest is St Peters, St Albans (179.4 per 1,000) and the lowest Clarence (56.4).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Sopwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verulam | 507 | 70.2 | -39% |
| St Peters | 1,675 | 179.4 | +55% |
| Cunningham | 867 | 100.0 | -14% |
| Clarence | 456 | 56.4 | -51% |
| Park Street | 856 | 100.1 | -13% |
| Bernards Heath | 615 | 73.2 | -37% |
| Batchwood | 511 | 66.1 | -43% |
| Hill End | 435 | 66.3 | -43% |
The 10 locations below account for 56% of the crime recorded in Sopwell over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Shopping Area” (163).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Shopping Area | 163 |
| On or near Supermarket | 116 |
| On or near Hudson Close | 40 |
| On or near Old Oak | 36 |
| On or near Butterfield Lane | 32 |
| On or near Lectern Lane | 29 |
| On or near Leyland Avenue | 27 |
| On or near Mandeville Drive | 23 |
| On or near Graham Close | 21 |
| On or near Griffiths Way | 21 |
Of the 671 crimes in Sopwell with a recorded outcome, 51% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 4.5% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 236 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 345 | 51.4% | 35.3% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 161 | 24.0% | 34.5% |
| Under investigation | 56 | 8.3% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 30 | 4.5% | 5.2% |
| Local resolution | 27 | 4.0% | 3.1% |
| Status update unavailable | 17 | 2.5% | 4.7% |
| Offender given a caution | 13 | 1.9% | 0.6% |
| Court result unavailable | 10 | 1.5% | 2.5% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 7 | 1.0% | 0.3% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 3 | 0.4% | 1.3% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.1% | 0.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.1% | 0.5% |
Sopwell has an estimated population of 7,838 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has more residents with Level 4 qualifications or above (49%, against 34%), more social housing (24%, against 17%) and a younger population (14%, against 19%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Sopwell average decile 6.8 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.
| Measure | Sopwell | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 21.7% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 13.6% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 64.8% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 3.1% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 15.7% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 6.5% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 48.8% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 13.8% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 18.8% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 57.2% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 23.7% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 18.8% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.8 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Sopwell a safe place to live?
Sopwell recorded 115.7 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 901st of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were shoplifting and anti-social behaviour.
What is the most common crime in Sopwell?
Anti-social behaviour was the most common category, with 236 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by violence and sexual offences (195).
Is crime in Sopwell going up or down?
Recorded crime in Sopwell was up 14% on the year before: 907 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 799 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Sopwell?
About 7,838 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 14% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Sopwell?
Sopwell 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.