Waltham Forest Crime Rate November 2025 | Monthly Statistics

Waltham Forest's crime rate in November 2025 stood at 9.1 per 1,000 residents, placing it 24.7% above the UK average of 7.3 per 1,000. This figure, while higher than the national benchmark, reflects the area's urban character and the interplay of seasonal factors such as Bonfire Night, Black Friday shopping, and the encroaching winter darkness. The most prevalent crime types were violence and sexual offences (23.7% of total incidents), followed by anti-social behaviour (22.9%) and vehicle crime (9.5%). The dominance of violence and sexual offences may be partly attributed to the area's mix of residential and commercial zones, which can create environments conducive to such incidents. Anti-social behaviour, though a significant portion of the total, is 98% above the UK average, suggesting a need for targeted interventions in community spaces. Meanwhile, shoplifting saw a marked decline of 26.7% compared to the previous month, possibly influenced by increased security measures during the busy shopping period. This reduction in retail crime contrasts with the rise in burglary and robbery, which may be linked to the darker evenings of November and the associated increase in pedestrian activity. The seasonal context of November—marked by events like Bonfire Night and the start of the festive shopping season—likely contributes to fluctuations in specific crime types, illustrating the dynamic nature of local crime patterns.

November 2025 saw a notable 26.7% reduction in shoplifting incidents, dropping from 191 to 140, a decline that may partly explain the lower-than-UK-average rate for this category (0.5 per 1,000 vs 0.6 per 1,000 nationally). Conversely, burglary increased by 25.5% (94 to 118), a rise that could be linked to the darker evenings of late November and the seasonal shift in retail activity. Anti-social behaviour also decreased by 6.7% (626 to 584), a trend that may reflect heightened community engagement during the month. Meanwhile, other crime rose sharply by 66.7% (15 to 25), a category that includes offences such as vandalism and public order breaches. The area's anti-social behaviour rate is 98% above the UK average (2.1 per 1,000 vs 1.1 per 1,000), highlighting a persistent challenge in managing disruptive incidents. These shifts underscore the combination of seasonal factors, local initiatives, and policing strategies in shaping crime patterns.

Waltham Forest's crime rate in November 2025 remained stable at 9.1 per 1,000 residents compared to the previous month, reflecting no significant shift in overall criminal activity. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 85 reported crimes, a figure that contextualises the scale of incidents within a typical working week. When considering the monthly exposure, one crime occurred for roughly every 110 residents over the course of November—a rate that, while higher than the UK average, aligns with the local population's density and urban characteristics. The stability in the overall crime rate contrasts with the marked variations in specific crime categories, such as the sharp decline in shoplifting and the surge in anti-social behaviour, which suggest evolving patterns in community interactions and policing efforts. This stability, however, does not negate the need for targeted interventions in areas where crime types have risen sharply, such as burglary and robbery, which may reflect seasonal factors like darker evenings and increased foot traffic during festive events.