Hatfield Broad Oak Crime Rate

Hatfield Broad Oak maintains a robust safety profile with an overall crime rate of 65.1 per 1,000 people, significantly lower than the UK average of 93.1. This translates to an impressive safety score of 83/100, positioning the area well above the national benchmark of 78. Recent data indicates a positive shift in the local environment, with crime rates decreasing by 6.2% year-over-year. While the area is generally secure, the property crime rate of 24.0 per 1,000 residents suggests that vigilance remains necessary for homeowners. This introduction provides a foundation for the detailed breakdown of crime types, seasonal trends, and temporal patterns that follow.

Crime Breakdown in Hatfield Broad Oak

In Hatfield Broad Oak, the criminal landscape is primarily defined by three main categories: violence and sexual offences, criminal damage and arson, and vehicle crime. Violence and sexual offences represent the largest portion of local reports, accounting for 45 incidents or 42.5% of the total crime volume. This is followed by criminal damage and arson at 12.3% and vehicle crime at 10.4%.

Property-related crime—which encompasses burglary, robbery, theft from the person, criminal damage and arson, bicycle theft, vehicle crime, and other theft—maintains a rate of 24.0 per 1,000 people. While this is lower than the UK average of 32.9, it remains a significant concern for residents. Specifically, the combined total of vehicle crime and criminal damage suggests that physical assets and transport are the primary targets for opportunistic offenders in the area.

For homeowners and residents, these statistics highlight the importance of securing both the perimeter of the home and any vehicles parked on-street or in driveways. Although the overall crime rate is relatively low, the concentration of offences in specific categories like vehicle crime (11 incidents) and criminal damage (13 incidents) indicates that visible security measures are essential to deterring local nuisance and property-based offences.

Crime Trends in Hatfield Broad Oak

The crime trend in Hatfield Broad Oak is currently on a downward trajectory, with a year-over-year decrease of 6.2%. This reduction indicates a positive shift in local safety and effective community policing. When examining the monthly trend data, we see a fluctuating pattern throughout the year. The highest crime rates were recorded in March and August, both peaking at 8.0 crimes per 1,000 people. These spikes may correlate with seasonal activities or specific local events.

Conversely, the lowest crime rates were observed in September and November, where figures dropped to 3.1 per 1,000. The data from late 2024 into 2025 shows a relatively stable environment, with rates hovering between 3.1 and 4.9 in the winter months before the spring increase. For residents, this means that while the overall trend is improving, there are specific times of the year—particularly late summer and early spring—when vigilance should be heightened. The 6.2% decrease is a promising sign that the area is maintaining its status as a safe, low-crime community.

How To Keep Safe in Hatfield Broad Oak

The most prevalent crime type in Hatfield Broad Oak is violence and sexual offences, which accounts for over 42% of local reports. While many of these incidents involve people known to one another, personal safety in public spaces remains a priority.

To enhance your personal safety, always stick to well-lit routes when walking at night and avoid taking shortcuts through isolated areas. If you are out alone, consider using a personal safety app that allows trusted contacts to track your journey.

Given the secondary prevalence of vehicle crime and criminal damage, ensure your property is well-lit with motion-activated lighting. This acts as a powerful deterrent for opportunistic offenders. Always double-check that your vehicle is locked and that no bags, electronics, or loose change are visible from the windows. For homeowners, installing a visible, professional-grade security system can significantly reduce the likelihood of your property being targeted for criminal damage or theft. Awareness of your surroundings and simple preventative habits are your best tools for staying safe in this high-scoring safety area.

Crime Timing in Hatfield Broad Oak

Analysis of crime timing in Hatfield Broad Oak reveals distinct patterns based on the time of day. The morning hours (6am - 12pm) are characterised by a high incidence of theft, accounting for 31% of offences during this period. This trend intensifies in the afternoon (12pm - 6pm), where theft rises to 37% and burglary peaks at 27%. These figures suggest that opportunistic property crimes are most frequent when residents are likely to be away from their homes for work or school.

As the day transitions into the evening (6pm - 12am), the nature of crime shifts, with 'other' crimes dominating at 42%, while vehicle crime remains a steady threat at 25%. However, the most striking pattern occurs during the night (12am - 6am), where vehicle crime surges to represent 50% of all recorded incidents. This indicates that vehicles parked overnight are at their highest risk during the early hours of the morning. Understanding these temporal trends allows residents to adjust their security habits, such as ensuring all thefts are deterred during the day and vehicles are extra-secure at night.

When examining the regional context, Hatfield Broad Oak is situated within a cluster of relatively low-crime settlements. Its rate of 65.1 per 1,000 people is higher than Hatfield Heath (37.1) and Little Hallingbury (42.5). Most notably, the nearby areas of Takeley Street and Sheering both reported a crime rate of 0.0 per 1,000 people, representing exceptionally quiet locales. While Hatfield Broad Oak shows higher activity than these immediate neighbours, it remains significantly safer than larger urban hubs in the wider Essex region. Understanding these local variations helps residents and prospective movers appreciate the nuanced safety landscape of the Uttlesford district, where rural peace is the standard but small-scale fluctuations between villages are common.

In Hatfield Broad Oak, where the property crime rate stands at 24.0 per 1,000 people, protecting your home requires a shift from reactive to proactive security. Traditional systems like Ring or Nest are often limited to recording crimes as they happen, providing footage of a burglary after the fact. For residents in this area, scOS offers a more sophisticated alternative by preventing crime before it occurs.

scOS is an AI-powered operating system that monitors your property boundaries in real-time. By using multi-camera intelligence, it can distinguish between a delivery driver and a genuine threat, activating autonomous responses like lights and speakers to deter intruders before they attempt a break-in. With vehicle crime being a top concern in the area, scOS’s DVLA vehicle verification is particularly valuable, identifying suspicious or unauthorised vehicles instantly. By creating a visible and intelligent layer of deterrence, scOS ensures that your home is not just monitored, but actively defended, making it the ideal choice for those looking to maintain the safety of their Hatfield Broad Oak property.