Stevenage and Hitchin streets with the most crime revealed

According to figures collected by CrimeRate between July 2020 and June 2023, Lister Close, which encompasses Lister Hospital and its car parks, saw a total of 282 offences, with 180 of those violent and sexual offences.

Hitchin's High Street saw 97 crimes, including 35 violent and sexual offences, 15 shoplifting offences and a single robbery.

Back in Stevenage, there were 78 offences at The Forum in Fairlands Way, with 55 of those shoplifitng, while Stevenage Leisure Park off Six Hills Way saw 78 crimes, including 33 violent and sexual offences.

Three other streets, Leys Avenue in Letchworth, Marshgate in Stevenage, and Sun Street in Hitchin, also recorded more than 50 offences.

Full stats for the following locations are as follows:

Lister Close (Lister Hospital) – Stevenage

• Bicycle theft – 1
• Burglary – 6
• Criminal damage and arson – 32
• Drugs – 3
• Other crime – 2
• Other theft – 21
• Possession of weapon – 1
• Public order – 19
• Shoplifting – 3
• Theft from a person – 1
• Vehicle crime – 12
• Violent and sexual offences – 180
• Total – 282

Lister Hospital in Lister Close. (Image: Newsquest)

High Street - Hitchin

• Bicycle theft – 1
• Burglary – 1
• Criminal damage and arson – 6
• Drugs – 5
• Other crime – 2
• Other theft – 2
• Possession of weapon – 1
• Public order – 2
• Robbery - 1
• Shoplifting – 15
• Theft from a person – 10
• Vehicle crime – 1
• Violent and sexual offences – 35
• Total - 97

Hitchin High Street. (Image: Maya Derrick)

Fairlands Way (The Forum) – Stevenage

• Bicycle theft – 3
• Burglary – 1
• Drugs – 1
• Other theft – 7
• Public order – 6
• Shoplifting – 55
• Theft from a person – 1
• Violent and sexual offences – 11
• Total – 84

The Forum in Fairlands Way. (Image: Google Maps)

Six Hills Way (Stevenage Leisure Park) – Stevenage

• Bicycle theft – 2
• Criminal damage and arson – 6
• Drugs – 2
• Other theft – 20
• Possession of weapon – 1
• Public order – 8
• Robbery - 1
• Shoplifting – 2
• Theft from a person – 3
• Violent and sexual offences – 33
• Total - 78

Stevenage Leisure Park in Six Hills Way. (Image: Google Maps)

Leys Avenue – Letchworth

• Bicycle theft – 1
• Burglary – 3
• Criminal damage and arson – 5
• Other theft – 4
• Possession of weapon – 1
• Public order – 1
• Shoplifting – 6
• Theft from a person – 3
• Vehicle crime – 3
• Violent and sexual offences – 26
• Total – 53

Leys Avenue in Letchworth. (Image: Newsquest)

Marshgate – Stevenage

• Bicycle theft – 4
• Burglary – 3
• Criminal damage and arson – 2
• Drugs – 4
• Other theft – 13
• Public order – 9
• Robbery - 4
• Shoplifting – 7
• Violent and sexual offences – 6
• Total – 52

Marshgate in Stevenage. (Image: Google Maps)

Sun Street – Hitchin

• Burglary – 3
• Criminal damage and arson – 6
• Drugs – 1
• Other theft – 6
• Public order – 2
• Shoplifting – 6
• Theft from a person – 2
• Violent and sexual offences – 25
• Total – 51

Hitchin's Sun Street. (Image: Will Durrant)

Stevenage's Bedwell was the neighbourhood with the highest crime rate at 227.91 crimes per 1,000 people.

As for the towns themselves, Stevenage had 79.69 crimes per 1,000 people, while Hitchin had 51.52 and Letchworth 65.15.

"Every crime report is reviewed to see what opportunities there are to investigate, make arrests and ultimately hold criminals to account for their actions," said a spokesperson for Herts police.

"A large number of violent and sexual crimes relate to parties known to each other rather than attacks on strangers. We offer support to all victims but will also look to put measures in place to protect people at risk of domestic or other kinds of abuse.

"While not all anti-social behaviour reports meet the threshold of a crime, our neighbourhood teams work with partners to tackle the issues causing the most public concern and prevent them from happening again.

"For free advice on how to protect yourself and your property from crime, go to www.herts.police.uk and search "crime prevention advice."