Sexual offences reported in Watford have soared 50% while violent crime also jumped, latest figures have revealed.

Hertfordshire Constabulary recorded 310 sexual offences in the borough from June 2021 to June 2022, compared to 155 the previous year, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Violent crime also rose from 2,542 to 3,054, but the force said lockdowns the previous year meant many crime reports for the period were "markedly lower".

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Across England and Wales, 70,600 rape offences were recorded in the year to June – an increase of 20% from the previous year.

Diana Fawcett, chief executive at the charity Victim Support, said: “This huge increase in sexual violence, in particular rape, reported to the police is seriously alarming and a stark reminder that the government needs to get a grip on staggeringly low conviction rates and horrendous court delays.”

Watford overall has seen a 16% rise in crimes, up to 8,765 from 7,535.

As well as sexual offences and violence, theft rose by 20%, with 3,552 incidents recorded in the 12 months to June.

At 36.8 crimes per 1,000 people in Watford, the rate is also higher than the average across England and Wales, which stood at 26.5 per 1,000 people.

Watford Observer: Watford town centre.Watford town centre. (Image: Web)

Other crimes recorded in Watford included:

  • 735 incidents of criminal damage and arson – up by 6%.
  • 217 drug offences – down by 26%.
  • 69 possession of weapons such as firearms or knives – a decrease of 14%.
  • 596 public order offences – up by 13%.
  • 536 stalking and harassment offences – down 8%.

Hertfordshire Constabulary said crime has risen in the last year because lockdowns in the previous year provided fewer opportunities for crimes to be committed.

A spokesperson said: “We can see most offences that tend to occur in public spaces, such as thefts from person, violence and public order offences, as well as sexual offences, may also be associated with people being able to meet up again.

“Some of this can be attributed in part to an increase in public confidence to report crime and suspicious activity.”

The police added they attend every burglary report and work with partners to make sure the town centre and night-time economy are safe places to visit.

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