Crime in St James, Waltham Forest: statistics, rates and trends
1,357 crimes were recorded in St James, Waltham Forest in the 12 months to August 2026, 87.3 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 16% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in St James, Waltham Forest at a glance
- Crime trends in St James, Waltham Forest
- Types of crime in St James, Waltham Forest
- St James, Waltham Forest compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in St James, Waltham Forest
- What happened after crimes were reported in St James, Waltham Forest
- Demographics of St James, Waltham Forest
- Questions about crime in St James, Waltham Forest
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (352), anti-social behaviour (338) and other theft (130) made up 60% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 1,591st of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the upper half.
| Measure | St James, Waltham Forest | Waltham Forest | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 1,357 | 29,459 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 87.3 | 105.3 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -16% | -4% | -1% |
| Population | 15,540 | 279,737 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in St James, Waltham Forest peaked in the year to August 2024 (1,730 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2022 (1,005). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it rose 5%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 1,357 | 87.3 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 1,620 | 104.2 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 1,730 | 111.3 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 1,144 | 73.6 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 1,005 | 64.7 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 1,342 | 86.4 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 1,469 | 94.5 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 1,173 | 75.5 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 1,295 | 83.3 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 96 |
| July 2026 | 101 |
| June 2026 | 149 |
| May 2026 | 92 |
| April 2026 | 103 |
| March 2026 | 96 |
| February 2026 | 103 |
| January 2026 | 99 |
| December 2025 | 108 |
| November 2025 | 128 |
| October 2025 | 134 |
| September 2025 | 148 |
Compared with England and Wales, St James, Waltham Forest recorded notably more bicycle theft (5.6 times the national rate), theft from the person (87% above the national rate) and anti-social behaviour (42% above the national rate), and notably less criminal damage and arson (68% below) and public order (49% below). On the year before, violence and sexual offences rose from 299 to 352, while theft from the person fell from 168 to 49 and criminal damage and arson fell from 72 to 34.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 352 | 22.7 | 34.2 | +18% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 338 | 21.8 | 15.4 | -3% |
| Other theft | 130 | 8.4 | 6.4 | -8% |
| Shoplifting | 112 | 7.2 | 8.5 | -18% |
| Bicycle theft | 72 | 4.6 | 0.8 | -4% |
| Vehicle crime | 63 | 4.1 | 5.0 | -46% |
| Burglary | 57 | 3.7 | 3.6 | -11% |
| Drugs | 56 | 3.6 | 3.3 | -22% |
| Public order | 53 | 3.4 | 6.7 | -12% |
| Theft from the person | 49 | 3.2 | 1.7 | -71% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 34 | 2.2 | 6.7 | -53% |
| Robbery | 23 | 1.5 | 1.4 | -48% |
| Other crime | 12 | 0.8 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 6 | 0.4 | 1.0 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
5 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than St James, Waltham Forest; the highest is High Street, Waltham Forest (234.2 per 1,000) and the lowest Markhouse (77.3).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs St James, Waltham Forest |
|---|---|---|---|
| High Street | 2,531 | 234.2 | +168% |
| Markhouse | 613 | 77.3 | -11% |
| William Morris | 1,202 | 85.9 | -2% |
| Lea Bridge | 2,435 | 139.4 | +60% |
| Higham Hill | 1,271 | 82.3 | -6% |
| Hoe Street | 1,674 | 117.7 | +35% |
| Wood Street | 1,168 | 106.6 | +22% |
| Chapel End | 1,136 | 90.5 | +4% |
The 10 locations below account for 48% of the crime recorded in St James, Waltham Forest over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Supermarket” (155).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 155 |
| On or near Parking Area | 136 |
| On or near Blackhorse Road | 103 |
| On or near Champness Close | 60 |
| On or near Haroldstone Road | 45 |
| On or near Essex Close | 33 |
| On or near Maude Road | 33 |
| On or near Tenby Road | 32 |
| On or near Essex Road | 30 |
| On or near Hoffmans Road | 29 |
Of the 1,019 crimes in St James, Waltham Forest with a recorded outcome, 48% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 4.0% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 338 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 485 | 47.6% | 35.3% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 236 | 23.2% | 34.5% |
| Under investigation | 104 | 10.2% | 11.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 80 | 7.9% | 4.7% |
| Local resolution | 43 | 4.2% | 3.1% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 41 | 4.0% | 5.2% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 13 | 1.3% | 1.3% |
| Court result unavailable | 8 | 0.8% | 2.5% |
| Offender given penalty notice | 7 | 0.7% | 0.1% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.2% | 0.3% |
St James, Waltham Forest has an estimated population of 15,540 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has more households without a car (55%, against 23%), more private renting (35%, against 20%) and fewer retired residents (7.8%, against 21.6%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up St James, Waltham Forest average decile 4.8 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | St James, Waltham Forest | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 18.2% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 6.8% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 69.3% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 4.7% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 7.8% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 10.3% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 53.4% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 14.4% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 54.6% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 45.5% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 19.9% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 34.5% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 4.8 | 5.5 (England) |
Is St James, Waltham Forest a safe place to live?
St James, Waltham Forest recorded 87.3 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 1,591st of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were bicycle theft and theft from the person.
What is the most common crime in St James, Waltham Forest?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 352 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (338).
Is crime in St James, Waltham Forest going up or down?
Recorded crime in St James, Waltham Forest was down 16% on the year before: 1,357 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 1,620 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of St James, Waltham Forest?
About 15,540 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 6.8% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers St James, Waltham Forest?
St James, Waltham Forest is policed by Metropolitan Police.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.