New data from Police.uk shows there were 295 total crime incidents reported in Watford Central, Hertfordshire, throughout January 2026. This represents a 10.5 per cent increase compared to December 2025, when 267 reports were recorded.
Violence and sexual offences were the most common reports during the month, with 65 incidents logged by police. Anti-social behaviour and shoplifting followed closely, with 58 and 47 reports respectively.
The figures show that crime remains lower than its recent peak in August 2025, when 393 reports were made in the town centre. Local officers, who moved to the George Street police station in 2023, are using this information to plan where they spend their time on patrol.
To help protect shops and residents, the police are working with groups like Watford Business Against Crime. This partnership uses a radio system to help businesses and officers talk to each other to catch shoplifters and stop trouble before it starts.
Dedicated patrols, known as Operation Hotspot, are also being used to target areas where retail crime and evening disorder are most likely to happen. These snapshots of local crime help the policing team decide which areas need the most attention each month to keep the community safe.
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