Crime in Waltham Cross: statistics, rates and trends
1,602 crimes were recorded in Waltham Cross in the 12 months to July 2026, 120.3 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 3% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Waltham Cross at a glance
- Crime trends in Waltham Cross
- Types of crime in Waltham Cross
- Waltham Cross compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Waltham Cross
- Streets with the most crime in Waltham Cross
- What happened after crimes were reported in Waltham Cross
- Population and deprivation in Waltham Cross
- Questions about crime in Waltham Cross
- About this data
1,602 crimes were recorded in Waltham Cross in the 12 months to July 2026, 120.3 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 3% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 459 reports (29% of the total).
Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Waltham Cross has the 180th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Waltham Cross | Broxbourne | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 1,602 | 9,560 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 120.3 | 93.8 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +3% | +7% | -1% |
| Population | 13,319 | 101,900 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Waltham Cross was highest in the year to July 2019 (2,015 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2025 (1,551). Over the whole period it fell 19%, 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 | 1,602 | 120.3 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 1,551 | 116.5 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 1,910 | 143.4 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 1,695 | 127.3 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 1,650 | 123.9 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 1,724 | 129.4 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 1,936 | 145.4 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 2,015 | 151.3 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 1,973 | 148.1 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 146 |
| June 2026 | 135 |
| May 2026 | 140 |
| April 2026 | 135 |
| March 2026 | 156 |
| February 2026 | 141 |
| January 2026 | 129 |
| December 2025 | 96 |
| November 2025 | 100 |
| October 2025 | 157 |
| September 2025 | 127 |
| August 2025 | 140 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Waltham Cross 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 anti-social behaviour, shoplifting, vehicle crime.
The largest increases were in burglary (+62%) and vehicle crime (+57%). The largest falls were in theft from the person (-25%) and shoplifting (-12%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 459 | 34.5 | 1.01 | -4% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 318 | 23.9 | 1.56 | -1% |
| Shoplifting | 169 | 12.7 | 1.53 | -12% |
| Vehicle crime | 129 | 9.7 | 1.97 | +57% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 93 | 7.0 | 1.03 | +21% |
| Public order | 91 | 6.8 | 1.03 | +30% |
| Other theft | 83 | 6.2 | 0.97 | -9% |
| Burglary | 68 | 5.1 | 1.44 | +62% |
| Drugs | 52 | 3.9 | 1.19 | +8% |
| Robbery | 44 | 3.3 | 2.45 | +13% |
| Theft from the person | 42 | 3.2 | 1.87 | -25% |
| Other crime | 28 | 2.1 | 1.00 | +17% |
| Possession of weapons | 19 | 1.4 | 1.47 | +19% |
| Bicycle theft | 7 | 0.5 | 0.64 | -46% |
Violence and sexual offences in Waltham Cross
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Waltham Cross recorded 459 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (34.5 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 4% on the year before. It made up 28.7% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Waltham Cross
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Waltham Cross recorded 318 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (23.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 19.9% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Waltham Cross
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Waltham Cross recorded 169 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (12.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 12% on the year before. It made up 10.5% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Waltham Cross
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Waltham Cross recorded 129 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 57% on the year before. It made up 8.1% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Waltham Cross
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Waltham Cross recorded 93 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.0 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 21% on the year before. It made up 5.8% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Waltham Cross
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Waltham Cross recorded 91 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.8 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 30% on the year before. It made up 5.7% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Waltham Cross
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Waltham Cross recorded 83 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.2 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 9% on the year before. It made up 5.2% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Waltham Cross
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Waltham Cross recorded 68 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 62% on the year before. It made up 4.2% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Waltham Cross
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Waltham Cross recorded 52 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 8% on the year before. It made up 3.2% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Waltham Cross
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Waltham Cross recorded 44 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 13% on the year before. It made up 2.7% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Waltham Cross
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Waltham Cross recorded 42 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 25% on the year before. It made up 2.6% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Waltham Cross
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Waltham Cross recorded 28 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.1 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 17% on the year before. It made up 1.7% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Waltham Cross
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Waltham Cross recorded 19 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 19% on the year before. It made up 1.2% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Waltham Cross
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Waltham Cross recorded 7 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 down 46% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the towns closest to Waltham Cross, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Waltham Cross.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Waltham Cross |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheshunt | 4,252 | 95.6 | -21% |
| Waltham Abbey | 2,095 | 102.0 | -15% |
| Enfield | 36,643 | 113.1 | -6% |
| Hoddesdon | 3,486 | 86.8 | -28% |
| Loughton | 2,693 | 79.5 | -34% |
| Buckhurst Hill | 668 | 55.8 | -54% |
| Epping | 973 | 95.2 | -21% |
| Potters Bar | 2,293 | 93.7 | -22% |
1 areas within Waltham Cross, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Waltham Cross had the highest rate (120.3 per 1,000) and Waltham Cross the lowest (120.3). 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 Cross | Neighbourhood | 13,319 | 1,602 | 120.3 |
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 Cross over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 135 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 110 |
| On or near Waltham Cross Bus Station | 73 |
| On or near Ruthven Avenue | 61 |
| On or near Eleanor Way | 51 |
| On or near Supermarket | 51 |
| On or near B176 | 45 |
| On or near Fishers Close | 42 |
| On or near Queen'S Drive | 36 |
| On or near York Road | 36 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Waltham Cross 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 | 559 | 34.9% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 362 | 22.6% |
| Not recorded | 318 | 19.9% |
| Under investigation | 144 | 9.0% |
| Local resolution | 68 | 4.2% |
| Status update unavailable | 66 | 4.1% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 56 | 3.5% |
| Court result unavailable | 12 | 0.7% |
| Offender given a caution | 11 | 0.7% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 4 | 0.2% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 2 | 0.1% |
Waltham Cross has an estimated population of 13,319. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Waltham Cross sits in decile 4.0, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Waltham Cross |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 20.7% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 66.6% |
| Aged 65 and over | 12.7% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 57.1% |
| Social rented homes | 19.1% |
| Private rented homes | 23.6% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 4.0 |
Is Waltham Cross a safe place to live?
Waltham Cross recorded 120.3 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, higher 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 Waltham Cross?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 459 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (318).
Is crime in Waltham Cross going up or down?
Recorded crime in Waltham Cross was up 3% on the year before: 1,602 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 1,551 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Waltham Cross?
Waltham Cross 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 Waltham Cross. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.