Crime in Waltham Abbey: statistics, rates and trends
2,150 crimes were recorded in Waltham Abbey in the 12 months to August 2026, 104.7 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 15% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- 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
- Demographics of Waltham Abbey
- Questions about crime in Waltham Abbey
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (813), anti-social behaviour (286) and criminal damage and arson (203) made up 61% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 300th of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the highest quarter.
| Measure | Waltham Abbey | Epping Forest | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 2,150 | 10,480 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 104.7 | 76.2 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +15% | +2% | -1% |
| Population | 20,542 | 137,451 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Waltham Abbey peaked in the year to August 2020 (2,640 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2025 (1,862). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 2%, in line with England and Wales.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 2,150 | 104.7 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 1,862 | 90.6 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 2,066 | 100.6 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 2,107 | 102.6 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 2,208 | 107.5 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 2,504 | 121.9 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 2,640 | 128.5 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 2,386 | 116.2 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 2,195 | 106.9 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 217 |
| 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 |
Compared with England and Wales, Waltham Abbey recorded notably more vehicle crime (95% above the national rate), drugs (80% above the national rate) and criminal damage and arson (47% above the national rate), and notably less shoplifting (34% below) and burglary (27% below). On the year before, anti-social behaviour rose from 199 to 286 and shoplifting rose from 83 to 114, while burglary fell from 71 to 53.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 813 | 39.6 | 34.2 | +24% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 286 | 13.9 | 15.4 | +44% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 203 | 9.9 | 6.7 | +21% |
| Vehicle crime | 199 | 9.7 | 5.0 | 0% |
| Public order | 141 | 6.9 | 6.7 | +4% |
| Other theft | 122 | 5.9 | 6.4 | -6% |
| Drugs | 121 | 5.9 | 3.3 | -10% |
| Shoplifting | 114 | 5.5 | 8.5 | +37% |
| Burglary | 53 | 2.6 | 3.6 | -25% |
| Other crime | 41 | 2.0 | 2.1 | +17% |
| Robbery | 23 | 1.1 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 17 | 0.8 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 10 | 0.5 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 7 | 0.3 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
2 of the 8 nearest towns have a higher crime rate than Waltham Abbey; the highest is Waltham Cross (119.2 per 1,000) and the lowest Buckhurst Hill (57.3).
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Waltham Abbey |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waltham Cross | 1,587 | 119.2 | +14% |
| Cheshunt | 4,322 | 97.2 | -7% |
| Loughton | 2,704 | 79.8 | -24% |
| Epping | 923 | 90.3 | -14% |
| Buckhurst Hill | 687 | 57.3 | -45% |
| Hoddesdon | 3,513 | 87.5 | -16% |
| Enfield | 36,570 | 112.9 | +8% |
| Chigwell | 843 | 66.4 | -37% |
Of the 3 areas within Waltham Abbey, Waltham Abbey West had the highest crime rate (145.4 per 1,000) and Waltham Abbey North the lowest (74.2).
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waltham Abbey West | Neighbourhood | 7,925 | 1,152 | 145.4 |
| Waltham Abbey South & Rural | Neighbourhood | 7,791 | 795 | 102.0 |
| Waltham Abbey North | Neighbourhood | 7,767 | 576 | 74.2 |
The 10 locations below account for 29% of the crime recorded in Waltham Abbey over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Grove Court” and “Supermarket” (138 each).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Grove Court | 138 |
| On or near Supermarket | 138 |
| On or near Hillhouse | 59 |
| On or near Old Shire Lane | 50 |
| On or near Romeland | 45 |
| On or near Springfields | 45 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 44 |
| On or near Silver Street | 32 |
| On or near Brooker Road | 31 |
| On or near Caldbeck | 31 |
Of the 1,864 crimes in Waltham Abbey with a recorded outcome, 39% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 3.2% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 286 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 733 | 39.3% | 35.3% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 638 | 34.2% | 34.5% |
| Under investigation | 165 | 8.9% | 11.5% |
| Local resolution | 80 | 4.3% | 3.1% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 60 | 3.2% | 5.2% |
| Status update unavailable | 60 | 3.2% | 4.7% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 47 | 2.5% | 1.3% |
| Court result unavailable | 44 | 2.4% | 2.5% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 18 | 1.0% | 0.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 18 | 1.0% | 0.6% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.1% | 0.3% |
Waltham Abbey has an estimated population of 20,542 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has more social housing (23%, against 17%), fewer students (5.4%, against 7.9%) and more residents with no qualifications (24%, against 18%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Waltham Abbey average decile 4.9 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Waltham Abbey | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 19.6% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 18.1% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 60.0% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 3.8% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 20.3% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 5.4% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 23.8% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 24.0% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 17.3% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 62.4% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 22.8% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 14.5% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 4.9 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Waltham Abbey a safe place to live?
Waltham Abbey recorded 104.7 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 300th of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were vehicle crime and drugs.
What is the most common crime in Waltham Abbey?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 813 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (286).
Is crime in Waltham Abbey going up or down?
Recorded crime in Waltham Abbey was up 15% on the year before: 2,150 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 1,862 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Waltham Abbey?
About 20,542 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 18% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Waltham Abbey?
Waltham Abbey is policed by Essex.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.