Crime in Bushey: statistics, rates and trends
1,818 crimes were recorded in Bushey in the 12 months to August 2026, 64.1 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 10% on the year before.
Table of Contents
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (691), anti-social behaviour (333) and other theft (161) made up 65% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 878th of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lower half.
| Measure | Bushey | Hertsmere | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 1,818 | 9,819 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 64.1 | 89.1 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -10% | -8% | -1% |
| Population | 28,356 | 110,212 | 58,127,638 |
The year to August 2026 had the least recorded crime in Bushey of any year here (1,818 crimes). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it was almost unchanged, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 1,818 | 64.1 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 2,009 | 70.8 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 2,067 | 72.9 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 1,913 | 67.5 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 2,045 | 72.1 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 2,139 | 75.4 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 1,891 | 66.7 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 1,882 | 66.4 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 1,830 | 64.5 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 152 |
| July 2026 | 202 |
| June 2026 | 132 |
| May 2026 | 166 |
| April 2026 | 143 |
| March 2026 | 145 |
| February 2026 | 107 |
| January 2026 | 177 |
| December 2025 | 157 |
| November 2025 | 140 |
| October 2025 | 148 |
| September 2025 | 149 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and shoplifting (89% below) and theft from the person (56% below) were well below it. On the year before, drugs rose from 61 to 87, while shoplifting fell from 44 to 26 and vehicle crime fell from 215 to 133.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 691 | 24.4 | 34.2 | +6% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 333 | 11.7 | 15.4 | -13% |
| Other theft | 161 | 5.7 | 6.4 | -23% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 133 | 4.7 | 6.7 | -20% |
| Vehicle crime | 133 | 4.7 | 5.0 | -38% |
| Burglary | 88 | 3.1 | 3.6 | -5% |
| Drugs | 87 | 3.1 | 3.3 | +43% |
| Public order | 86 | 3.0 | 6.7 | -14% |
| Other crime | 28 | 1.0 | 2.1 | -20% |
| Shoplifting | 26 | 0.9 | 8.5 | -41% |
| Theft from the person | 21 | 0.7 | 1.7 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 13 | 0.5 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Robbery | 13 | 0.5 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 5 | 0.2 | 0.8 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
5 of the 8 nearest towns have a higher crime rate than Bushey; the highest is Borehamwood (104.4 per 1,000) and the lowest Moor Park (33.6).
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Bushey |
|---|---|---|---|
| Watford (Watford) | 14,259 | 103.7 | +62% |
| Radlett | 490 | 60.0 | -6% |
| Moor Park | 194 | 33.6 | -48% |
| Borehamwood | 4,229 | 104.4 | +63% |
| Harrow | 21,983 | 81.7 | +27% |
| Bricket Wood | 295 | 55.3 | -14% |
| Rickmansworth | 1,810 | 77.8 | +21% |
| Abbots Langley and Kings Langley | 1,115 | 67.3 | +5% |
Of the 4 areas within Bushey, Bushey North had the highest crime rate (70.8 per 1,000) and Bushey Heath the lowest (42.9).
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bushey North | Neighbourhood | 9,675 | 685 | 70.8 |
| Bushey St James | Neighbourhood | 7,516 | 531 | 70.6 |
| Bushey Park | Neighbourhood | 8,993 | 536 | 59.6 |
| Bushey Heath | Neighbourhood | 4,101 | 176 | 42.9 |
The 10 locations below account for 22% of the crime recorded in Bushey over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Hartspring Lane” (91).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Hartspring Lane | 91 |
| On or near Berrygrove Lane | 51 |
| On or near Lea Close | 41 |
| On or near Rossway Drive | 36 |
| On or near Pasture Close | 34 |
| On or near Maple Close | 30 |
| On or near The Birches | 30 |
| On or near Falconer Road | 29 |
| On or near Moat Close | 29 |
| On or near Fox Close | 27 |
Of the 1,485 crimes in Bushey with a recorded outcome, 39% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 2.4% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 333 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 578 | 38.9% | 35.3% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 504 | 33.9% | 34.5% |
| Under investigation | 161 | 10.8% | 11.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 67 | 4.5% | 4.7% |
| Local resolution | 63 | 4.2% | 3.1% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 36 | 2.4% | 5.2% |
| Court result unavailable | 19 | 1.3% | 2.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 18 | 1.2% | 1.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 18 | 1.2% | 0.6% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 12 | 0.8% | 0.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 7 | 0.5% | 0.5% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.1% | 0.3% |
Bushey has an estimated population of 28,356 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer households without a car (13%, against 23%), less social housing (13%, against 17%) and more residents with Level 4 qualifications or above (42%, against 34%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Bushey average decile 7.8 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.
| Measure | Bushey | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 19.1% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 20.3% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 61.6% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.8% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 20.7% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 6.8% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 41.6% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 14.5% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 12.9% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 69.9% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 12.5% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 17.5% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 7.8 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Bushey a safe place to live?
Bushey recorded 64.1 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 878th of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Bushey?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 691 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (333).
Is crime in Bushey going up or down?
Recorded crime in Bushey was down 10% on the year before: 1,818 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 2,009 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Bushey?
About 28,356 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 20% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Bushey?
Bushey 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.