Crime in Hemel Hempstead: statistics, rates and trends
10,306 crimes were recorded in Hemel Hempstead in the 12 months to August 2026, 102.6 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 8% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Hemel Hempstead at a glance
- Crime trends in Hemel Hempstead
- Types of crime in Hemel Hempstead
- Hemel Hempstead compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Hemel Hempstead
- Streets with the most crime in Hemel Hempstead
- What happened after crimes were reported in Hemel Hempstead
- Demographics of Hemel Hempstead
- Questions about crime in Hemel Hempstead
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (3,481), anti-social behaviour (2,473) and shoplifting (820) made up 66% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 325th of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the highest quarter.
| Measure | Hemel Hempstead | Dacorum | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 10,306 | 13,768 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 102.6 | 85.3 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -8% | -5% | -1% |
| Population | 100,479 | 161,420 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Hemel Hempstead peaked in the year to August 2019 (11,204 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2021 (9,330). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 5%, in line with England and Wales.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 10,306 | 102.6 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 11,163 | 111.1 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 10,256 | 102.1 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 10,208 | 101.6 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 9,593 | 95.5 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 9,330 | 92.9 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 9,928 | 98.8 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 11,204 | 111.5 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 10,879 | 108.3 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 940 |
| July 2026 | 1,046 |
| June 2026 | 934 |
| May 2026 | 860 |
| April 2026 | 841 |
| March 2026 | 868 |
| February 2026 | 789 |
| January 2026 | 741 |
| December 2025 | 766 |
| November 2025 | 811 |
| October 2025 | 878 |
| September 2025 | 832 |
Compared with England and Wales, Hemel Hempstead recorded notably more anti-social behaviour (60% above the national rate) and other theft (26% above the national rate), and notably less bicycle theft (55% below) and theft from the person (51% below). On the year before, drugs rose from 200 to 341 and possession of weapons rose from 65 to 95, while robbery fell from 156 to 91 and burglary fell from 447 to 265.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 3,481 | 34.6 | 34.2 | -7% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 2,473 | 24.6 | 15.4 | 0% |
| Shoplifting | 820 | 8.2 | 8.5 | -24% |
| Other theft | 818 | 8.1 | 6.4 | +1% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 640 | 6.4 | 6.7 | -7% |
| Vehicle crime | 530 | 5.3 | 5.0 | -15% |
| Public order | 460 | 4.6 | 6.7 | -15% |
| Drugs | 341 | 3.4 | 3.3 | +70% |
| Burglary | 265 | 2.6 | 3.6 | -41% |
| Other crime | 172 | 1.7 | 2.1 | -17% |
| Possession of weapons | 95 | 0.9 | 1.0 | +46% |
| Robbery | 91 | 0.9 | 1.4 | -42% |
| Theft from the person | 83 | 0.8 | 1.7 | 0% |
| Bicycle theft | 37 | 0.4 | 0.8 | -16% |
What each category covers: crime categories.
Hemel Hempstead has a higher crime rate than all 8 of its nearest towns.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Hemel Hempstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abbots Langley and Kings Langley | 1,115 | 67.3 | -34% |
| Bovingdon | 341 | 56.3 | -45% |
| Berkhamsted | 1,280 | 58.0 | -43% |
| Chiswell Green | 260 | 43.4 | -58% |
| Bricket Wood | 295 | 55.3 | -46% |
| St Albans | 6,245 | 85.2 | -17% |
| Harpenden | 1,086 | 37.6 | -63% |
| Chesham | 1,622 | 72.2 | -30% |
Of the 13 areas within Hemel Hempstead, Hemel Hempstead Town had the highest crime rate (195.6 per 1,000) and Bennetts End the lowest (49.1), 4 times apart.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hemel Hempstead Town | Neighbourhood | 7,504 | 1,468 | 195.6 |
| Adeyfield East | Neighbourhood | 8,476 | 1,300 | 153.4 |
| Boxmoor | Neighbourhood | 9,009 | 1,312 | 145.6 |
| Apsley and Corner Hall | Neighbourhood | 11,235 | 1,221 | 108.7 |
| Highfield | Neighbourhood | 7,100 | 701 | 98.7 |
| Grovehill | Neighbourhood | 7,738 | 676 | 87.4 |
| Leverstock Green | Neighbourhood | 11,017 | 938 | 85.1 |
| Gadebridge | Neighbourhood | 5,583 | 456 | 81.7 |
| Chaulden and Warners End | Neighbourhood | 10,265 | 809 | 78.8 |
| Adeyfield West | Neighbourhood | 5,560 | 403 | 72.5 |
| Nash Mills | Neighbourhood | 3,908 | 267 | 68.3 |
| Woodhall Farm | Neighbourhood | 6,130 | 387 | 63.1 |
| Bennetts End | Neighbourhood | 5,052 | 248 | 49.1 |
The 10 locations below account for 27% of the crime recorded in Hemel Hempstead over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Parking Area” (974).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 974 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 428 |
| On or near Supermarket | 379 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 240 |
| On or near Strawberry Mews | 213 |
| On or near King Harry Street | 135 |
| On or near Further/Higher Educational Building | 117 |
| On or near Bridge Street | 99 |
| On or near Teesdale | 97 |
| On or near Jarman Way | 95 |
Of the 7,833 crimes in Hemel Hempstead with a recorded outcome, 38% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 4.3% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 2,473 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 2,965 | 37.9% | 35.3% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 2,822 | 36.0% | 34.5% |
| Under investigation | 741 | 9.5% | 11.5% |
| Local resolution | 339 | 4.3% | 3.1% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 335 | 4.3% | 5.2% |
| Status update unavailable | 259 | 3.3% | 4.7% |
| Court result unavailable | 177 | 2.3% | 2.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 78 | 1.0% | 0.6% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 38 | 0.5% | 1.3% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 35 | 0.4% | 0.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 24 | 0.3% | 0.5% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 10 | 0.1% | 0.3% |
Hemel Hempstead has an estimated population of 100,479 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has more social housing (26%, against 17%), fewer students (5.5%, against 7.9%) and fewer households without a car (17%, against 23%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Hemel Hempstead average decile 5.8 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Hemel Hempstead | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 21.1% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 15.3% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 63.8% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 3.1% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 18.2% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 5.5% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 32.8% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 16.5% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 16.9% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 58.3% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 26.3% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 15.3% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.8 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Hemel Hempstead a safe place to live?
Hemel Hempstead recorded 102.6 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 325th of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were anti-social behaviour and other theft.
What is the most common crime in Hemel Hempstead?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 3,481 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (2,473).
Is crime in Hemel Hempstead going up or down?
Recorded crime in Hemel Hempstead was down 8% on the year before: 10,306 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 11,163 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Hemel Hempstead?
About 100,479 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 15% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Hemel Hempstead?
Hemel Hempstead 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.