Royston (North Hertfordshire) Crime Rate

Introduction to Crime in Royston (North Hertfordshire)

Royston (North Hertfordshire), a Built-Up Area, records an overall crime rate of 60.1 per 1,000 residents per year. This figure is significantly lower than the UK average crime rate of 93.4 per 1,000, indicating that Royston is a very safe place to live. The area boasts an impressive safety score of 86 out of 100, well above the UK average of 78/100, reflecting a highly secure environment for its population of 15,414. The crime trend in Royston has remained stable, with a slight year-over-year decrease of 4.4%, suggesting a consistent and reassuring safety landscape.

Crime Type Analysis

In Royston (North Hertfordshire), Violence and sexual offences are the most common crime type, accounting for 37.6% of all incidents, at a rate of 22.6 per 1,000 people. Anti-social behaviour is the second highest, representing 23.4% of crimes with a rate of 14.1 per 1,000 residents. Other theft ranks third, contributing 7.8% to the total, at a rate of 4.7 per 1,000.

Property-related crime in Royston, which includes burglary, theft from person, criminal damage and arson, bicycle theft, vehicle crime, and other theft, stands at 18.0 per 1,000 people. This is substantially lower than the UK average property crime rate of 33.2 per 1,000. For residents and homeowners, this indicates a significantly reduced risk of falling victim to property crimes, contributing to the area's high safety score. Despite the lower rates, maintaining good security practices remains a sensible approach.

Crime Trends in Royston (North Hertfordshire)

Royston (North Hertfordshire) has experienced a stable crime trend over the past year, with a decrease of 4.4% in total reported crimes year-over-year. Monthly crime rates per 1,000 residents show some variations, with a peak of 6.2 in October 2024 and 6.0 in July 2025, and a low of 3.8 in December 2024. After a dip in winter, rates generally increased into the summer months before stabilising around 4.7 towards September 2025. This stable trend with an overall decrease suggests a consistent and improving safety situation for the community.

Time Patterns of Crime in Royston (North Hertfordshire)

Crime in Royston (North Hertfordshire) exhibits varying patterns throughout the day. In the morning hours (6am-12pm), theft is the most significant crime type, accounting for 46% of incidents, followed by vehicle crime at 20% and 'Other' crime at 22%. Burglary is also present at 12%. This period suggests vulnerabilities related to people leaving for work and commercial activity.

The afternoon (12pm-6pm) continues to see theft as the dominant crime, making up 51% of incidents, with burglary at 21% and 'Other' crime at 20%. Vehicle crime is less prominent. This period, often busy with daily activities, presents opportunities for various forms of theft.

As evening approaches (6pm-12am), 'Other' crime becomes the most prevalent at 38%, with vehicle crime increasing to 22% and theft decreasing to 21%. Burglary remains a concern at 19%. This shift suggests a broader range of incidents occurring as social activities increase.

During the night-time (12am-6am), vehicle crime becomes the most significant at 47%, followed by 'Other' crime at 23% and burglary at 21%. Theft significantly drops to 9%. These hours are typically associated with increased risks for vehicle-related offences and residential break-ins when properties are less supervised.

Comparison with Nearby Areas

When comparing Royston (North Hertfordshire)'s crime statistics with neighbouring areas, it provides valuable regional context. With an overall crime rate of 60.1 per 1,000, Royston generally maintains a very favourable safety profile compared to surrounding settlements like Kneesworth, Bassingbourn, Therfield, and Melbourn. Its crime rate is often lower than or comparable to these areas, highlighting its position as one of the safer Built-Up Areas within the region. This comparison reinforces Royston's reputation as a secure and peaceful place to live.

Protecting Your Property in Royston (North Hertfordshire)

With Royston (North Hertfordshire)'s property crime rate at 18.0 per 1,000 people, which is significantly below the national average, residents still benefit from 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.