Total Crime Rate
95.2 per 1,000
All offences · Oct 2024 - Sep 2025Bedford has the 15th highest crime rate of 45 districts in East of England region and the 124th highest crime rate district of 318 districts in England and Wales. Within the region (East of England), it has the 15th highest crime rate of 45 districts.
The overall crime rate in Bedford in the last 12 months was 95.2 per 1,000 residents and was 17.1% higher than the East of England region average (81.3 per 1,000 residents). In the last 12 months, Bedford’s most reported crimes were Violence and sexual offences with 6,100 offences recorded. The least common crime was Theft from the person with 106 cases , up 2.9% compared to 2024. The fastest-growing crime category was Drugs ( 26.8% YoY). The sharpest decline was Burglary ( -30.8% YoY).
Violent crimes totalled 7,726 (≈ 41.2 per 1,000 residents). Year-over-year these were rising ( 2.4% ). Over the last decade, overall crime has falling ( -34.7% comparing early vs recent averages) .
Last 12 months · All offences per 1,000 residents
District average: 95.2 per 1,000
| Ward | Per 1,000 | vs. District | Label vs UK wards | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greyfriars | 285.2 | 190.0 (200%) | Very high 10/10 |
| 2 | Castle & Newnham | 210.0 | 114.9 (121%) | Very high 10/10 |
| 3 | Cauldwell | 163.8 | 68.6 (72%) | Very high 10/10 |
| 4 | Harpur | 153.7 | 58.5 (61%) | Very high 10/10 |
| 5 | Kempston Central & East | 131.1 | 35.9 (38%) | Very high 9/10 |
| 6 | Kingsbrook | 112.3 | 17.2 (18%) | Very high 9/10 |
| 7 | Goldington | 111.3 | 16.2 (17%) | Very high 9/10 |
| 8 | Shortstown | 83.9 | -11.3 (-12%) | High 7/10 |
| 9 | Queens Park | 82.0 | -13.2 (-14%) | High 7/10 |
| 10 | Kempston North | 80.8 | -14.4 (-15%) | High 7/10 |
| 11 | Kempston South | 74.8 | -20.4 (-21%) | Typical 6/10 |
| 12 | Harrold | 64.8 | -30.3 (-32%) | Typical 6/10 |
| 13 | Brickhill | 63.2 | -32.0 (-34%) | Typical 5/10 |
| 14 | Riseley | 61.4 | -33.8 (-35%) | Typical 5/10 |
| 15 | Biddenham | 60.8 | -34.4 (-36%) | Typical 5/10 |
| 16 | Wixams & Wilstead | 59.9 | -35.3 (-37%) | Typical 5/10 |
| 17 | Wyboston | 57.1 | -38.0 (-40%) | Typical 5/10 |
| 18 | De Parys | 53.9 | -41.3 (-43%) | Low 4/10 |
| 19 | Great Denham | 53.7 | -41.5 (-44%) | Low 4/10 |
| 20 | Great Barford | 51.7 | -43.5 (-46%) | Low 4/10 |
| 21 | Sharnbrook | 47.1 | -48.0 (-50%) | Low 4/10 |
| 22 | Renhold & Ravensden | 37.9 | -57.3 (-60%) | Very low 2/10 |
| 23 | Riverfield | 36.7 | -58.5 (-61%) | Very low 2/10 |
| 24 | Clapham & Oakley | 35.5 | -59.7 (-63%) | Very low 2/10 |
| 25 | Putnoe | 33.6 | -61.6 (-65%) | Very low 2/10 |
| 26 | Wootton & Kempston Rural | 32.2 | -63.0 (-66%) | Very low 2/10 |
| 27 | Bromham | 24.7 | -70.5 (-74%) | Very low 1/10 |
| 28 | Kempston West | 9.2 | -85.9 (-90%) | Very low 1/10 |
StreetScan crime figures are based on official UK open data:
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. © Crown copyright and database right.