East Hertfordshire Crime Rate January 2026 | Monthly Statistics

For a population of 156,875, the 690 crimes reported in January 2026 translate to a rate of 4.4 per 1,000 residents—33.3% below the UK average of 6.6. This figure positions East Hertfordshire as one of the safer local authority districts in the country, though the crime profile reveals a combination of factors. Violence and sexual offences dominate the landscape, accounting for 42.6% of all incidents, followed by anti-social behaviour (16.4%) and drugs (6.5%). These rates remain consistently below national averages, with violence and sexual offences at 1.9 per 1,000 (22% below the UK's 2.4) and anti-social behaviour at 0.7 per 1,000 (23% below the UK's 0.9). The seasonal context of January—post-holiday, shorter days, and reduced retail activity—likely contributes to lower outdoor crime rates, though the spike in robbery and theft from the person suggests vulnerabilities in specific environments. The area's commuter-oriented infrastructure and suburban character may explain the relatively low levels of vehicle crime (0.2 per 1,000) and burglary (0.2 per 1,000), both of which are below UK averages by over 40%.

January 2026 saw a stark rise in robbery, doubling from 3 to 8 incidents (+166.7%), alongside a 100% increase in theft from the person. These spikes contrast with notable declines, such as burglary dropping by 48.1% (52 to 27) and bicycle theft halving (6 to 3). The crime mix shifted further away from property crimes, with violent crimes accounting for 42.6% of total incidents—still 22% below the UK average. Drug-related offences.3 per 1,000, rose 9.8% compared to December, a trend that may reflect seasonal patterns or increased enforcement in specific areas. Residents should note the sharp rise in robbery, which now accounts for 1.2% of all crimes, a figure that could indicate evolving criminal activity in high-footfall zones.

East Hertfordshire's January 2026 crime rate of 4.4 per 1,000 residents marks a 19.7% decline from the previous month's 5.5, reflecting a sustained downward trend. With 690 crimes reported over 31 days, this equates to approximately 22 crimes per day—a rate that remains significantly below the UK average. The monthly exposure figure of 1 crime for every 227 residents underscores the relative safety of the area, even as specific crime categories show nuanced variations. For context, the population of 156,875 means that each resident faces a lower risk of encountering crime compared to the national average, though localised factors such as seasonal patterns and community initiatives may contribute to this disparity. The reduction in burglary and other thefts by over 40% suggests potential effectiveness in targeted policing or community engagement efforts, though further analysis would be needed to confirm causal links.