Crime in Baldock: statistics, rates and trends
805 crimes were recorded in Baldock in the 12 months to July 2026, 75.1 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 9% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Baldock at a glance
- Crime trends in Baldock
- Types of crime in Baldock
- Baldock compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Baldock
- Streets with the most crime in Baldock
- What happened after crimes were reported in Baldock
- Population and deprivation in Baldock
- Questions about crime in Baldock
- About this data
805 crimes were recorded in Baldock in the 12 months to July 2026, 75.1 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 9% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 322 reports (40% of the total).
Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Baldock has the 696th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Baldock | North Hertfordshire | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 805 | 9,015 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 75.1 | 65.7 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -9% | -3% | -1% |
| Population | 10,722 | 137,201 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Baldock was highest in the year to July 2019 (902 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2020 (703). Over the whole period it fell 7%, 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 | 805 | 75.1 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 884 | 82.4 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 844 | 78.7 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 821 | 76.6 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 818 | 76.3 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 734 | 68.5 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 703 | 65.6 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 902 | 84.1 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 864 | 80.6 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 78 |
| June 2026 | 46 |
| May 2026 | 55 |
| April 2026 | 68 |
| March 2026 | 67 |
| February 2026 | 54 |
| January 2026 | 66 |
| December 2025 | 57 |
| November 2025 | 71 |
| October 2025 | 99 |
| September 2025 | 69 |
| August 2025 | 75 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Baldock 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 other theft (+17%). The largest falls were in shoplifting (-45%) and other crime (-25%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 322 | 30.0 | 0.88 | -4% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 168 | 15.7 | 1.02 | -25% |
| Other theft | 75 | 7.0 | 1.09 | +17% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 68 | 6.3 | 0.94 | +10% |
| Vehicle crime | 46 | 4.3 | 0.87 | +5% |
| Public order | 32 | 3.0 | 0.45 | -6% |
| Shoplifting | 22 | 2.1 | 0.25 | -45% |
| Burglary | 21 | 2.0 | 0.55 | -5% |
| Drugs | 19 | 1.8 | 0.54 | +0% |
| Other crime | 15 | 1.4 | 0.66 | -25% |
| Possession of weapons | 6 | 0.6 | 0.58 | -14% |
| Robbery | 4 | 0.4 | 0.28 | +100% |
| Theft from the person | 4 | 0.4 | 0.22 | +33% |
| Bicycle theft | 3 | 0.3 | 0.34 | -50% |
Violence and sexual offences in Baldock
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Baldock recorded 322 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (30.0 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 4% on the year before. It made up 40.0% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Baldock
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Baldock recorded 168 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (15.7 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 25% on the year before. It made up 20.9% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Baldock
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Baldock recorded 75 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.0 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 17% on the year before. It made up 9.3% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Baldock
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Baldock recorded 68 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.3 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 10% on the year before. It made up 8.4% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Baldock
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Baldock recorded 46 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.3 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 5% on the year before. It made up 5.7% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Baldock
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Baldock recorded 32 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 6% on the year before. It made up 4.0% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Baldock
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Baldock recorded 22 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 45% on the year before. It made up 2.7% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Baldock
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Baldock recorded 21 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 2.6% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Baldock
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Baldock recorded 19 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 2.4% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Baldock
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Baldock recorded 15 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 25% on the year before. It made up 1.9% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Baldock
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Baldock 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 down 14% on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Baldock
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Baldock recorded 4 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 100% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Baldock
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Baldock recorded 4 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and up 33% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Baldock
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Baldock recorded 3 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 50% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the towns closest to Baldock, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Baldock.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Baldock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Letchworth | 2,841 | 84.5 | +13% |
| Stotfold | 660 | 48.2 | -36% |
| Arlesey | 366 | 57.5 | -23% |
| Hitchin | 2,459 | 67.9 | -10% |
| Stevenage | 10,799 | 113.7 | +51% |
| Shefford | 607 | 72.2 | -4% |
| Biggleswade | 1,547 | 66.2 | -12% |
| Buntingford | 564 | 67.4 | -10% |
2 areas within Baldock, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Baldock West had the highest rate (88.3 per 1,000) and Baldock East the lowest (29.7). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baldock West | Neighbourhood | 8,299 | 733 | 88.3 |
| Baldock East | Neighbourhood | 2,423 | 72 | 29.7 |
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 Baldock over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 96 |
| On or near Hillcrest | 84 |
| On or near Park Crescent | 61 |
| On or near London Road | 25 |
| On or near Ashton'S Lane | 16 |
| On or near Clare Crescent | 15 |
| On or near Beechridge Way | 14 |
| On or near The Tene | 14 |
| On or near Chalk Hills | 13 |
| On or near Ivel Way | 13 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Baldock 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 267 | 33.2% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 197 | 24.5% |
| Not recorded | 168 | 20.9% |
| Under investigation | 77 | 9.6% |
| Status update unavailable | 23 | 2.9% |
| Local resolution | 20 | 2.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 17 | 2.1% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 10 | 1.2% |
| Offender given a caution | 7 | 0.9% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 6 | 0.7% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 6 | 0.7% |
| Court result unavailable | 6 | 0.7% |
Baldock has an estimated population of 10,722. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Baldock sits in decile 8.0, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Baldock |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 16.5% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 63.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 20.2% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 66.9% |
| Social rented homes | 15.8% |
| Private rented homes | 17.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 8.0 |
Is Baldock a safe place to live?
Baldock recorded 75.1 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 Baldock?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 322 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (168).
Is crime in Baldock going up or down?
Recorded crime in Baldock was down 9% on the year before: 805 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 884 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Baldock?
Baldock is policed by Hertfordshire. 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 Baldock. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.