Revealed: The most crime-ridden streets in Watford

The data shows the worst streets for crime in the area from September 2015 until August 2016.

Are there any surprises on this list?

10. St John’s Road

In tenth place is St John’s Road, which makes the top ten despite being located just round the corner from Watford police station. 57 crimes were reported on this road since September 2015.

In the last year, there were 36 reports of anti-social behaviour at this location, with 11 public order offences and three instances of violent or sexual offences also recorded.

=8. Queen’s Road

Queen’s Road was joint eighth in the list with 59 criminal incidents. Included in these 59 cases were 17 violent or sexual offences, eight reports of criminal damage or arson, and seven bicycle thefts.

=8. Water Lane

Tying with Queen’s Road with 59 crimes in the last year is Water Lane. Unlike Queen’s Road however, vehicle crime was quite prevalent here, with 21 incidents recorded. Anti-social behaviour was recorded 13 times, and criminal damage or arson a further six times.

7. New Road

Anti-social behaviour made up nearly half of all crime in New Road, with 30 of the 63 criminal reports being of this nature. Shoplifting incidents were recorded 17 times while violent or sexual assaults occurred four times.

=5. Lower Derby Road

Squeezing into the top five is Lower Derby Road with 65 offences. Of these, 27 were related to anti-social behaviour, 13 to violent or sexual assaults, and four to vehicle crime.

=5. Market Street

Joining Lower Derby Road in fifth with 65 crimes is Market Street. Anti-social behaviour again formed the lion’s share of offences in the area, with 18 cases recorded. Violent or sexual offences accounted for another 15 instances, while public order offences were recorded six times.

4. Exchange Road

Of the 76 crimes reported in Exchange Road over the last year, 21 were of an anti-social behaviour nature, 12 were reports of violent or sexual offences, and a further 11 were criminal damage or arson.

3. Bridge Place

Bridge Place was the third worst street for crime in central Watford in the last 12 months, with 112 incidents reported to police.

Shoplifting unsurprisingly dominated here, with 35 incidents. Violent or sexual offences were recorded 24 times while public order offences featured 11 times.

2. Market Place

We hit a sharp increase in the number of criminal reports as we go to the second worst street for crime in central Watford; Market Place.

In the last year alone, 263 reports of criminal activity in Market Street were received, 77 of them violent or sexual assaults, 73 of them anti-social behaviour and 25 of them recorded as “other theft”.

1. St Mary’s View

By far and away the worst road for crime over the last 12 months is St Mary’s View, with 506 reports of criminal incidents - nearly double that of second place Market Place.

Violent or sexual assaults were recorded 138 times, “other thefts” 78 times, and shoplifting 75 times. Theft from a person was also recorded a worrying 58 times, while public order offences made up a further 41 incidents.

These figures only take into account residential roads. Crimes recorded as taking place at supermarkets, petrol stations and nightclubs are not included in the list.