Crime in Waltham Abbey: statistics, rates and trends
2,095 crimes were recorded in Waltham Abbey in the 12 months to July 2026, 102.0 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 11% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Waltham Abbey at a glance
- Crime trends in Waltham Abbey
- Types of crime in Waltham Abbey
- Waltham Abbey compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Waltham Abbey
- Streets with the most crime in Waltham Abbey
- What happened after crimes were reported in Waltham Abbey
- Population and deprivation in Waltham Abbey
- Questions about crime in Waltham Abbey
- About this data
2,095 crimes were recorded in Waltham Abbey in the 12 months to July 2026, 102.0 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 11% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 789 reports (38% of the total).
Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Waltham Abbey has the 332nd highest crime rate.
| Measure | Waltham Abbey | Epping Forest | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 2,095 | 10,436 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 102.0 | 75.9 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +11% | +1% | -1% |
| Population | 20,542 | 137,451 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Waltham Abbey was highest in the year to July 2020 (2,631 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2025 (1,893). Over the whole period it fell 4%, 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 | 2,095 | 102.0 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 1,893 | 92.2 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 2,056 | 100.1 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 2,125 | 103.4 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 2,197 | 107.0 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 2,571 | 125.2 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 2,631 | 128.1 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 2,351 | 114.4 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 2,186 | 106.4 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 233 |
| June 2026 | 222 |
| May 2026 | 173 |
| April 2026 | 176 |
| March 2026 | 150 |
| February 2026 | 160 |
| January 2026 | 185 |
| December 2025 | 149 |
| November 2025 | 156 |
| October 2025 | 163 |
| September 2025 | 166 |
| August 2025 | 162 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Waltham Abbey 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. Rates were well above the national level for criminal damage and arson, vehicle crime, drugs.
The largest increases were in anti-social behaviour (+34%) and other crime (+24%). The largest falls were in burglary (-31%) and other theft (-27%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 789 | 38.4 | 1.12 | +18% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 268 | 13.0 | 0.85 | +34% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 200 | 9.7 | 1.44 | +24% |
| Vehicle crime | 198 | 9.6 | 1.96 | +1% |
| Public order | 146 | 7.1 | 1.07 | +11% |
| Drugs | 131 | 6.4 | 1.95 | +2% |
| Other theft | 113 | 5.5 | 0.86 | -27% |
| Shoplifting | 104 | 5.1 | 0.61 | +17% |
| Burglary | 51 | 2.5 | 0.70 | -31% |
| Other crime | 41 | 2.0 | 0.95 | +24% |
| Robbery | 21 | 1.0 | 0.76 | +24% |
| Possession of weapons | 15 | 0.7 | 0.75 | +7% |
| Bicycle theft | 11 | 0.5 | 0.65 | +10% |
| Theft from the person | 7 | 0.3 | 0.20 | -56% |
Violence and sexual offences in Waltham Abbey
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Waltham Abbey recorded 789 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (38.4 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 18% on the year before. It made up 37.7% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Waltham Abbey
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Waltham Abbey recorded 268 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (13.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 34% on the year before. It made up 12.8% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Waltham Abbey
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Waltham Abbey recorded 200 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 24% on the year before. It made up 9.5% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Waltham Abbey
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Waltham Abbey recorded 198 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 9.5% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Waltham Abbey
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Waltham Abbey recorded 146 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.1 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 11% on the year before. It made up 7.0% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Waltham Abbey
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Waltham Abbey recorded 131 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 2% on the year before. It made up 6.3% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Waltham Abbey
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Waltham Abbey recorded 113 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 27% on the year before. It made up 5.4% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Waltham Abbey
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Waltham Abbey recorded 104 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 17% on the year before. It made up 5.0% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Waltham Abbey
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Waltham Abbey recorded 51 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 31% on the year before. It made up 2.4% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Waltham Abbey
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Waltham Abbey recorded 41 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.0 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 24% on the year before. It made up 2.0% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Waltham Abbey
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Waltham Abbey recorded 21 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 24% on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Waltham Abbey
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Waltham Abbey recorded 15 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 7% on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Waltham Abbey
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Waltham Abbey recorded 11 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 10% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Waltham Abbey
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Waltham Abbey recorded 7 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 56% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the towns closest to Waltham Abbey, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Waltham Abbey.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Waltham Abbey |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waltham Cross | 1,602 | 120.3 | +18% |
| Cheshunt | 4,252 | 95.6 | -6% |
| Loughton | 2,693 | 79.5 | -22% |
| Epping | 973 | 95.2 | -7% |
| Buckhurst Hill | 668 | 55.8 | -45% |
| Hoddesdon | 3,486 | 86.8 | -15% |
| Enfield | 36,643 | 113.1 | +11% |
| Chigwell | 842 | 66.3 | -35% |
3 areas within Waltham Abbey, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Waltham Abbey West had the highest rate (140.3 per 1,000) and Waltham Abbey North the lowest (75.1). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waltham Abbey West | Neighbourhood | 7,925 | 1,112 | 140.3 |
| Waltham Abbey South & Rural | Neighbourhood | 7,791 | 784 | 100.6 |
| Waltham Abbey North | Neighbourhood | 7,767 | 583 | 75.1 |
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 Waltham Abbey over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Grove Court | 135 |
| On or near Supermarket | 130 |
| On or near Hillhouse | 60 |
| On or near Old Shire Lane | 48 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 45 |
| On or near Romeland | 36 |
| On or near Springfields | 36 |
| On or near Lucas Court | 33 |
| On or near Haywood Court | 30 |
| On or near Silver Street | 30 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Waltham Abbey 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 735 | 35.1% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 605 | 28.9% |
| Not recorded | 268 | 12.8% |
| Under investigation | 155 | 7.4% |
| Local resolution | 80 | 3.8% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 68 | 3.2% |
| Status update unavailable | 63 | 3.0% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 44 | 2.1% |
| Court result unavailable | 35 | 1.7% |
| Offender given a caution | 21 | 1.0% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 20 | 1.0% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.0% |
Waltham Abbey has an estimated population of 20,542. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Waltham Abbey sits in decile 4.9, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Waltham Abbey |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 19.6% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 62.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 18.1% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 62.4% |
| Social rented homes | 22.8% |
| Private rented homes | 14.5% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 4.9 |
Is Waltham Abbey a safe place to live?
Waltham Abbey recorded 102.0 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, close to 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 Waltham Abbey?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 789 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (268).
Is crime in Waltham Abbey going up or down?
Recorded crime in Waltham Abbey was up 11% on the year before: 2,095 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 1,893 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Waltham Abbey?
Waltham Abbey is policed by Essex. 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 Waltham Abbey. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.