Crime in Abbots Langley and Kings Langley: statistics, rates and trends
1,115 crimes were recorded in Abbots Langley and Kings Langley in the 12 months to August 2026, 67.3 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 5% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Abbots Langley and Kings Langley at a glance
- Crime trends in Abbots Langley and Kings Langley
- Types of crime in Abbots Langley and Kings Langley
- Abbots Langley and Kings Langley compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Abbots Langley and Kings Langley
- Streets with the most crime in Abbots Langley and Kings Langley
- What happened after crimes were reported in Abbots Langley and Kings Langley
- Demographics of Abbots Langley and Kings Langley
- Questions about crime in Abbots Langley and Kings Langley
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (404), anti-social behaviour (224) and vehicle crime (80) made up 63% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 830th of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lower half.
| Measure | Abbots Langley and Kings Langley | Three Rivers | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 1,115 | 6,482 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 67.3 | 67.7 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +5% | +1% | -1% |
| Population | 16,565 | 95,807 | 58,127,638 |
The year to August 2026 had the most recorded crime in Abbots Langley and Kings Langley of any year here (1,115 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 | 1,115 | 67.3 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 1,063 | 64.2 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 1,039 | 62.7 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 1,065 | 64.3 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 974 | 58.8 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 947 | 57.2 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 1,071 | 64.7 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 1,068 | 64.5 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 1,096 | 66.2 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 121 |
| July 2026 | 107 |
| June 2026 | 92 |
| May 2026 | 107 |
| April 2026 | 97 |
| March 2026 | 81 |
| February 2026 | 76 |
| January 2026 | 72 |
| December 2025 | 92 |
| November 2025 | 90 |
| October 2025 | 85 |
| September 2025 | 95 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and shoplifting (65% below) and other theft (45% below) were well below it. On the year before, drugs rose from 29 to 49 and public order rose from 48 to 65, while other crime fell from 31 to 22.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 404 | 24.4 | 34.2 | +5% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 224 | 13.5 | 15.4 | 0% |
| Vehicle crime | 80 | 4.8 | 5.0 | -8% |
| Burglary | 71 | 4.3 | 3.6 | +13% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 70 | 4.2 | 6.7 | +3% |
| Public order | 65 | 3.9 | 6.7 | +35% |
| Other theft | 59 | 3.6 | 6.4 | -12% |
| Drugs | 49 | 3.0 | 3.3 | +69% |
| Shoplifting | 49 | 3.0 | 8.5 | +14% |
| Other crime | 22 | 1.3 | 2.1 | -29% |
| Possession of weapons | 9 | 0.5 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Robbery | 7 | 0.4 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 4 | 0.2 | 1.7 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 2 | 0.1 | 0.8 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
3 of the 8 nearest towns have a higher crime rate than Abbots Langley and Kings Langley; the highest is Watford (Watford) (103.7 per 1,000) and the lowest Chorleywood (35.3).
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Abbots Langley and Kings Langley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bricket Wood | 295 | 55.3 | -18% |
| Watford (Watford) | 14,259 | 103.7 | +54% |
| Chiswell Green | 260 | 43.4 | -35% |
| Hemel Hempstead | 10,306 | 102.6 | +52% |
| Rickmansworth | 1,810 | 77.8 | +16% |
| Bovingdon | 341 | 56.3 | -16% |
| Chorleywood | 505 | 35.3 | -48% |
| Radlett | 490 | 60.0 | -11% |
Of the 3 areas within Abbots Langley and Kings Langley, Abbots Langley & Bedmond had the highest crime rate (67.2 per 1,000) and Kings Langley the lowest (58.5).
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abbots Langley & Bedmond | Neighbourhood | 6,284 | 422 | 67.2 |
| Gade Valley | Neighbourhood | 6,733 | 437 | 64.9 |
| Kings Langley | Neighbourhood | 5,416 | 317 | 58.5 |
The 10 locations below account for 28% of the crime recorded in Abbots Langley and Kings Langley over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Parking Area” (46).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 46 |
| On or near High Street | 38 |
| On or near School Mead | 38 |
| On or near Ovaltine Drive | 30 |
| On or near Station Road | 30 |
| On or near Sports/Recreation Area | 29 |
| On or near Pinehurst Close | 27 |
| On or near Langley Hill Close | 26 |
| On or near Parsonage Close | 24 |
| On or near Spur Close | 21 |
Of the 891 crimes in Abbots Langley and Kings Langley with a recorded outcome, 35% 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 224 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 309 | 34.7% | 35.3% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 307 | 34.5% | 34.5% |
| Under investigation | 116 | 13.0% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 40 | 4.5% | 5.2% |
| Local resolution | 38 | 4.3% | 3.1% |
| Status update unavailable | 35 | 3.9% | 4.7% |
| Court result unavailable | 15 | 1.7% | 2.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 13 | 1.5% | 0.6% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 5 | 0.6% | 0.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 4 | 0.4% | 0.5% |
| Suspect charged as part of another case | 4 | 0.4% | 0.0% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 3 | 0.3% | 1.3% |
Abbots Langley and Kings Langley has an estimated population of 16,565 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer households without a car (12%, against 23%), less private renting (13%, against 20%) and fewer students (5.5%, against 7.9%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Abbots Langley and Kings Langley average decile 7.8 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.
| Measure | Abbots Langley and Kings Langley | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 19.0% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 20.0% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 62.6% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.6% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 22.3% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 5.5% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 39.0% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 13.8% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 12.5% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 71.5% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 15.3% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 13.2% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 7.8 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Abbots Langley and Kings Langley a safe place to live?
Abbots Langley and Kings Langley recorded 67.3 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 830th of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Abbots Langley and Kings Langley?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 404 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (224).
Is crime in Abbots Langley and Kings Langley going up or down?
Recorded crime in Abbots Langley and Kings Langley was up 5% on the year before: 1,115 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 1,063 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Abbots Langley and Kings Langley?
About 16,565 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 20% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Abbots Langley and Kings Langley?
Abbots Langley and Kings Langley 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.