Welwyn Garden City Crime Rate

Welwyn Garden City is a major urban settlement with an overall crime rate of 96.5 per 1,000 people per year. This is slightly higher than the UK average of 93.1. Despite this, the town maintains a safety score of 79/100, which is marginally better than the UK average of 78/100. Recent data shows that the crime trend is increasing, with a 10.3% rise year-over-year. As a planned garden city with a significant commercial and retail core, the town experiences a crime profile typical of a busy regional hub. Understanding these statistics is important for residents and businesses to ensure they are taking the necessary steps to stay safe in an evolving local landscape.

Crime Breakdown in Welwyn Garden City

In Welwyn Garden City, the most prevalent crime types are violence and sexual offences, which make up 31.5% of all recorded incidents. This is followed by anti-social behaviour at 19.4% and shoplifting at 16.8%. The high percentage of shoplifting is indicative of the area's role as a major regional retail destination.

Property-related crime is a significant concern for the town, with an overall rate of 38.6 per 1,000 residents. This category includes shoplifting (16.8%), other theft (5.2%), burglary (4.5%), and vehicle crime (4.4%). Criminal damage and arson also account for 5.7% of the total. For residents, this means that while violent crime is the most frequent category, the combined volume of acquisitive crimes—where property is targeted—is substantial. Protecting homes and businesses against theft and burglary is therefore a high priority for the local community.

The crime trend in Welwyn Garden City is currently increasing, with a 10.3% rise in total crimes over the last year. Analysis of monthly data shows that the crime rate per 1,000 residents remained relatively high throughout 2025, peaking at 8.7 in April and June. The lowest rate of 7.1 was recorded in September 2025, followed by a rise back to 7.9 in October. This consistent level of activity, combined with the overall annual increase, suggests that the town is experiencing a period of heightened criminal activity, making it important for residents to remain vigilant and review their personal and property security.

How To Keep Safe in Welwyn Garden City

The most common crime in Welwyn Garden City is violence and sexual offences, followed by anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. While much of the shoplifting is concentrated in the town centre, residents should remain vigilant across all neighbourhoods.

To improve your safety and protect your property:

• Be aware of your surroundings in the town centre, particularly near retail hubs where shoplifting and anti-social behaviour are more frequent.
• Ensure your vehicle is securely locked at all times, especially overnight when vehicle crime accounts for 36% of local activity.
• Secure your home with high-quality locks and consider installing a proactive security system to deter opportunistic burglars.
• Keep high-value items out of sight from windows to reduce the temptation for theft.
• If walking home late at night, stick to well-lit main roads and avoid quieter, unlit paths.
• Report any suspicious activity or anti-social behaviour to the local police to help them target their patrols effectively.

Crime in Welwyn Garden City follows distinct daily cycles. Theft and shoplifting are most prevalent during the morning (41%) and afternoon (41%), coinciding with peak retail hours. As the day transitions into evening, 'other' crime types, including anti-social behaviour, become more dominant, accounting for 47% of incidents. However, the night-time period (12am - 6am) sees a significant shift toward property crime, with vehicle crime peaking at 36% and burglary at 24% of all recorded activity. This indicates that while the town centre is busy during the day, residential areas are most vulnerable to acquisitive crime during the late-night hours.

In the local context, Welwyn Garden City is the most active urban centre among its immediate neighbours. Its crime rate of 96.5 per 1,000 residents is higher than nearby Welwyn, which recorded 78.6. Other surrounding areas, such as Tewin, Tewin Wood, and Letty Green, all reported zero crimes per 1,000 people. This contrast highlights Welwyn Garden City's role as a primary commercial and residential hub, which naturally attracts more activity and, consequently, a higher volume of recorded incidents than the smaller, more rural settlements nearby.

With a property crime rate of 38.6 per 1,000 people and a 10.3% increase in overall crime, Welwyn Garden City residents should be proactive about their security. A significant concern is that during the night-time hours (12am - 6am), vehicle crime accounts for 36% of all incidents and burglary for 24%. Traditional security systems often fail because they are reactive; they only alert you or record footage once an intruder has already entered your property.

scOS provides a proactive alternative designed to prevent crime before it happens. Using AI-powered intelligence, scOS monitors your property's boundaries in real-time, identifying potential threats before they reach your home. If a threat is detected, the system can autonomously trigger deterrents like lights or audio warnings, removing the element of surprise and causing intruders to move on. In a busy town like Welwyn Garden City, this proactive approach is the most effective way to protect your assets and maintain your family's safety.