Crime in Watton-at-Stone: statistics, rates and trends
240 crimes were recorded in Watton-at-Stone in the 12 months to August 2026, 49.2 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 45% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Watton-at-Stone at a glance
- Crime trends in Watton-at-Stone
- Types of crime in Watton-at-Stone
- Watton-at-Stone compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Watton-at-Stone
- What happened after crimes were reported in Watton-at-Stone
- Demographics of Watton-at-Stone
- Questions about crime in Watton-at-Stone
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (97), anti-social behaviour (54) and vehicle crime (18) made up 70% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 3,060th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lowest quarter.
| Measure | Watton-at-Stone | East Hertfordshire | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 240 | 10,712 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 49.2 | 68.3 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +45% | +3% | -1% |
| Population | 4,881 | 156,875 | 58,127,638 |
The year to August 2026 had the most recorded crime in Watton-at-Stone of any year here (240 crimes). 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 | 240 | 49.2 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 166 | 34.0 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 207 | 42.4 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 196 | 40.2 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 177 | 36.3 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 211 | 43.2 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 199 | 40.8 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 196 | 40.2 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 228 | 46.7 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 38 |
| July 2026 | 33 |
| June 2026 | 17 |
| May 2026 | 18 |
| April 2026 | 16 |
| March 2026 | 10 |
| February 2026 | 19 |
| January 2026 | 20 |
| December 2025 | 19 |
| November 2025 | 21 |
| October 2025 | 17 |
| September 2025 | 12 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and violence and sexual offences (42% below) and anti-social behaviour (28% below) were well below it. On the year before, violence and sexual offences rose from 62 to 97 and anti-social behaviour rose from 37 to 54.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 97 | 19.9 | 34.2 | +56% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 54 | 11.1 | 15.4 | +46% |
| Vehicle crime | 18 | 3.7 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Public order | 14 | 2.9 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Burglary | 13 | 2.7 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Criminal damage and arson | 12 | 2.5 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Other theft | 11 | 2.3 | 6.4 | n/a |
| Drugs | 10 | 2.0 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Other crime | 7 | 1.4 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 4 | 0.8 | 1.0 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
6 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Watton-at-Stone; the highest is Hertford Castle (149.8 per 1,000) and the lowest Aston, Datchworth & Walkern (40.4).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Watton-at-Stone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aston, Datchworth & Walkern | 215 | 40.4 | -18% |
| Hertford Bengeo | 573 | 58.9 | +20% |
| Hertford Sele | 417 | 64.6 | +31% |
| Ware St Mary's | 332 | 49.0 | 0% |
| Hertford Kingsmead | 802 | 81.7 | +66% |
| Hertford Castle | 745 | 149.8 | +205% |
| Ware Priory | 720 | 92.0 | +87% |
| Ware Trinity | 311 | 56.4 | +15% |
The 10 locations below account for 46% of the crime recorded in Watton-at-Stone over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Firs Walk” (31).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Firs Walk | 31 |
| On or near Great Innings South | 12 |
| On or near Ware Road | 11 |
| On or near Great Innings North | 10 |
| On or near Beane Road | 9 |
| On or near Turners Close | 9 |
| On or near High Road | 8 |
| On or near Parking Area | 8 |
| On or near High Street | 7 |
| On or near Hazeldell | 6 |
Of the 186 crimes in Watton-at-Stone with a recorded outcome, 27% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 1.1% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 54 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 73 | 39.2% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 51 | 27.4% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 28 | 15.1% | 11.5% |
| Local resolution | 13 | 7.0% | 3.1% |
| Status update unavailable | 8 | 4.3% | 4.7% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 4 | 2.2% | 1.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 3 | 1.6% | 0.6% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 2 | 1.1% | 5.2% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 2 | 1.1% | 0.3% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.5% | 0.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.5% | 0.5% |
Watton-at-Stone has an estimated population of 4,881 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer households without a car (7.8%, against 23.3%), fewer students (5.3%, against 7.9%) and an older population (25%, against 19%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Watton-at-Stone average decile 7.1 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.
| Measure | Watton-at-Stone | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 17.1% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 24.6% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 60.5% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.4% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 25.5% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 5.3% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 39.1% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 13.4% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 7.8% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 70.7% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 14.6% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 14.6% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 7.1 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Watton-at-Stone a safe place to live?
Watton-at-Stone recorded 49.2 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 3,060th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Watton-at-Stone?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 97 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (54).
Is crime in Watton-at-Stone going up or down?
Recorded crime in Watton-at-Stone was up 45% on the year before: 240 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 166 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Watton-at-Stone?
About 4,881 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 25% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Watton-at-Stone?
Watton-at-Stone 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.