Letchworth Crime Rate

Introduction to Crime in Letchworth

Letchworth, a Built-Up Area within North Hertfordshire, records an overall crime rate of 88.5 per 1,000 residents per year. While this is slightly below the UK average crime rate of 93.4 per 1,000, it still indicates a moderate level of crime within the area. Letchworth holds a safety score of 80 out of 100, which is higher than the UK average of 78/100, suggesting a relatively safe environment for its population of 33,195. The crime trend in Letchworth has remained stable recently, with a minor year-over-year decrease of 2.4%, indicating a consistent safety landscape.

Crime Type Analysis

In Letchworth, Violence and sexual offences are the most common crime type, accounting for 37.6% of all incidents, at a rate of 33.3 per 1,000 people. Anti-social behaviour is the second highest, representing 21.6% of crimes with a rate of 19.2 per 1,000 residents. Shoplifting ranks third, contributing 9.7% to the total, at a rate of 8.6 per 1,000.

Property-related crime in Letchworth, which includes burglary, theft from person, criminal damage and arson, bicycle theft, vehicle crime, and other theft, stands at 27.6 per 1,000 people. This is below the UK average property crime rate of 33.2 per 1,000. While lower than the national average, the presence of shoplifting as a top three crime type suggests commercial areas may experience higher instances of theft. Residents and businesses are advised to remain vigilant and consider appropriate security measures to protect their assets.

Crime Trends in Letchworth

Letchworth has experienced a stable crime trend over the past year, with a slight decrease of 2.4% in total reported crimes year-over-year. Monthly crime rates per 1,000 residents show fluctuations, with a high of 8.7 in October 2024 and 8.4 in March 2025, and a low of 6.0 in November 2024. The rates generally hovered between 7.2 and 8.4 for much of 2025, with a dip towards the end of the period in September 2025 to 6.5. This stable trend indicates that the overall crime situation has remained consistent, with no significant shifts in safety levels.

Time Patterns of Crime in Letchworth

Crime in Letchworth shows varying patterns throughout the day. In the morning hours (6am-12pm), theft is the most significant crime type, accounting for 54% of incidents, followed by 'Other' crime at 29% and burglary at 9%. This period, when many residents are out, presents opportunities for property-related offences.

The afternoon (12pm-6pm) continues to see theft as the dominant crime, making up 55% of incidents. 'Other' crime is also notable at 27%, with burglary at 14%. This suggests a sustained period of vulnerability for properties and businesses during the day.

As evening approaches (6pm-12am), 'Other' crime becomes the most prevalent at 52%, while theft significantly decreases to 24%. Burglary remains a concern at 14%, and vehicle crime is at 9%. This shift indicates a broader range of incidents occurring as social activities increase.

During the night-time (12am-6am), 'Other' crime continues to be high at 40%, but vehicle crime rises to 26% and burglary to 20%. Theft significantly drops to 14%. These hours are typically associated with increased risks for residential break-ins and vehicle-related offences when properties are less supervised.

Comparison with Nearby Areas

When comparing Letchworth's crime statistics with neighbouring areas, it helps to provide regional context. With an overall crime rate of 88.5 per 1,000, Letchworth has a higher crime rate than Baldock and Ickleford, suggesting it experiences more incidents than these smaller settlements. It is also higher than Hitchin. However, it is comparable to Stotfold. This comparison highlights Letchworth's position as an urban area with a moderate crime rate within its immediate vicinity, suggesting residents should be aware of its specific crime profile when comparing it to smaller, potentially quieter, neighbours.

Protecting Your Property in Letchworth

With Letchworth's property crime rate at 27.6 per 1,000 people, which is below the national average, residents should still prioritise robust home security. Traditional security cameras often only provide footage of a burglary after it has occurred. For truly effective protection, consider proactive systems designed to prevent crime before it happens at your property boundary. scOS, an AI-powered home security operating system, offers this advanced level of deterrence.

scOS utilises multi-camera intelligence to detect threats at the perimeter, rather than just recording an event after a break-in. By learning your routines and identifying real threats, it can activate lights and engage speakers to disorient potential intruders, destroying their element of surprise. This proactive intervention means that instead of merely documenting a crime, you can prevent it. Professional-grade equipment signals serious protection, making burglars decide within 60 seconds that your property is too much effort and to move on, providing a superior level of security compared to reactive DIY solutions.