Ware Crime Rate January 2026 | Monthly Statistics

Ware’s crime profile in January 2026 showed a marked contrast to the UK average, with a rate of 3.7 per 1,000—45.6% below the national figure of 6.8. Violence and sexual offences dominated the crime profile, accounting for 50.7% of all incidents, followed by anti-social behaviour at 11.0%. The seasonal context of January, a post-holiday period marked by reduced retail activity and shorter daylight hours, likely contributed to lower outdoor crime rates. However, the dominance of violent crime over property crime (37 violent vs 15 property offences) deviates from typical patterns in built-up areas, where property crimes often lead. This imbalance may reflect local factors such as community dynamics or policing priorities. The UK average comparisons further highlight Ware’s relative safety: anti-social behaviour was 57% below the national rate, and vehicle crime was 46% lower. These figures suggest that while Ware faces challenges in violent crime, its overall environment remains significantly safer than the UK average, a trend consistent with its status as a largely residential built-up area in East Hertfordshire.

The most striking change in January 2026 was the doubling of robbery incidents, rising from 1 to 2. This increase, though small in absolute terms, contrasts with a 66.7% drop in burglary and a 55.6% decline in vehicle crime. The latter two decreases may reflect seasonal trends, such as reduced outdoor activity during shorter winter days. Violence and sexual offences remained the most common crime type (50.7% of total), though they were 24% below the UK average. Anti-social behaviour also fell sharply, with rates 57% below the national average. Possession of weapons rose to 0.1 per 1,000, matching the UK average, a rare point of parity for Ware. These shifts underscore the complexity of local crime patterns, where reductions in property crime may be offset by increases in personal safety concerns.

Ware’s crime rate in January 2026 fell by 40.1% compared to the previous month’s 6.2 per 1,000, marking a significant downward trend. Over 31 days, the area recorded an average of 2 crimes per day, translating to roughly one reported crime for every 271 residents during the month. This monthly exposure figure highlights the relatively low frequency of crime in Ware, even when considering the area’s population of nearly 20,000. The drop in overall crime aligns with seasonal patterns typical of January, when reduced retail footfall and shorter daylight hours may partly explain lower outdoor crime rates. However, the shift in crime types—such as the rise in robbery and possession of weapons—suggests evolving local dynamics that warrant closer attention to community-specific factors.