Crime in Waltham Cross: statistics, rates and trends
1,587 crimes were recorded in Waltham Cross in the 12 months to August 2026, 119.2 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 3% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- 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
- Demographics of Waltham Cross
- Questions about crime in Waltham Cross
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (450), anti-social behaviour (303) and shoplifting (165) made up 58% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 183rd of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the highest quarter.
| Measure | Waltham Cross | Broxbourne | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 1,587 | 9,638 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 119.2 | 94.6 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +3% | +8% | -1% |
| Population | 13,319 | 101,900 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Waltham Cross peaked in the year to August 2019 (2,036 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2025 (1,539). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 20%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 1,587 | 119.2 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 1,539 | 115.5 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 1,907 | 143.2 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 1,703 | 127.9 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 1,654 | 124.2 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 1,709 | 128.3 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 1,911 | 143.5 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 2,036 | 152.9 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 1,975 | 148.3 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 125 |
| 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 |
Compared with England and Wales, Waltham Cross recorded notably more robbery (2.8 times the national rate), vehicle crime (95% above the national rate) and theft from the person (74% above the national rate). On the year before, vehicle crime rose from 87 to 129 and burglary rose from 45 to 65, while theft from the person fell from 52 to 39.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 450 | 33.8 | 34.2 | -6% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 303 | 22.7 | 15.4 | -4% |
| Shoplifting | 165 | 12.4 | 8.5 | -15% |
| Vehicle crime | 129 | 9.7 | 5.0 | +48% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 99 | 7.4 | 6.7 | +34% |
| Public order | 95 | 7.1 | 6.7 | +32% |
| Other theft | 87 | 6.5 | 6.4 | -2% |
| Burglary | 65 | 4.9 | 3.6 | +44% |
| Drugs | 52 | 3.9 | 3.3 | +18% |
| Robbery | 50 | 3.8 | 1.4 | +43% |
| Theft from the person | 39 | 2.9 | 1.7 | -25% |
| Other crime | 29 | 2.2 | 2.1 | +21% |
| Possession of weapons | 17 | 1.3 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 7 | 0.5 | 0.8 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
Waltham Cross has a higher crime rate than all 8 of its nearest towns.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Waltham Cross |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheshunt | 4,322 | 97.2 | -18% |
| Waltham Abbey | 2,150 | 104.7 | -12% |
| Enfield | 36,570 | 112.9 | -5% |
| Hoddesdon | 3,513 | 87.5 | -27% |
| Loughton | 2,704 | 79.8 | -33% |
| Buckhurst Hill | 687 | 57.3 | -52% |
| Epping | 923 | 90.3 | -24% |
| Potters Bar | 2,320 | 94.8 | -20% |
Waltham Cross is the one area listed within Waltham Cross, with 119.2 crimes per 1,000 residents.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waltham Cross | Neighbourhood | 13,319 | 1,587 | 119.2 |
The 10 locations below account for 41% of the crime recorded in Waltham Cross over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Parking Area” (139).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 139 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 108 |
| On or near Waltham Cross Bus Station | 81 |
| On or near Ruthven Avenue | 61 |
| On or near Supermarket | 50 |
| On or near B176 | 48 |
| On or near Eleanor Way | 45 |
| On or near Fishers Close | 42 |
| On or near King'S Road | 36 |
| On or near High Street | 34 |
Of the 1,284 crimes in Waltham Cross with a recorded outcome, 43% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 4.6% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 303 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 551 | 42.9% | 35.3% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 374 | 29.1% | 34.5% |
| Under investigation | 126 | 9.8% | 11.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 81 | 6.3% | 4.7% |
| Local resolution | 64 | 5.0% | 3.1% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 59 | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Court result unavailable | 12 | 0.9% | 2.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 11 | 0.9% | 0.6% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 4 | 0.3% | 0.3% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 2 | 0.2% | 1.3% |
Waltham Cross has an estimated population of 13,319 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has more residents with no qualifications (25%, against 18%), a younger population (13%, against 19%) and fewer retired residents (15%, against 22%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Waltham Cross average decile 4.0 (1 = most deprived), more deprived than average.
| Measure | Waltham Cross | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 20.7% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 12.7% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 60.7% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 4.2% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 15.5% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 7.3% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 29.3% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 25.0% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 27.2% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 57.1% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 19.1% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 23.6% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 4.0 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Waltham Cross a safe place to live?
Waltham Cross recorded 119.2 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 183rd of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were robbery and vehicle crime.
What is the most common crime in Waltham Cross?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 450 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (303).
Is crime in Waltham Cross going up or down?
Recorded crime in Waltham Cross was up 3% on the year before: 1,587 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 1,539 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Waltham Cross?
About 13,319 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 13% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Waltham Cross?
Waltham Cross 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.