Total Crime Rate

786.7 per 1,000 10/10 · Very High

All offences · Oct 2024 - Sep 2025
Latest update: 13.12.2025 Crime figures are sourced from data.police.uk and are typically published with a 3-month delay.
Crime rate per 1000 residents
  • All crimes 786.7 10/10
  • Violence and sexual offences 246.7 10/10
  • Anti-social behaviour 133.3 10/10
  • Public order 126.7 10/10
  • Shoplifting 46.7 8/10
  • Criminal damage and arson 40.0 10/10
  • Drugs 33.3 10/10
  • Other theft 33.3 10/10
  • Bicycle theft 26.7 10/10
  • Theft from the person 26.7 10/10
  • Vehicle crime 26.7 10/10
  • Robbery 20.0 10/10
  • Burglary 13.3 9/10
  • Other crime 6.7 8/10
  • Possession of weapons 6.7 9/10
Values shown per 1,000 residents · Oct 2024 - Sep 2025 · Rating compares this oa to UK peers of the same type.
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Crime overview

Merchant Gate area has the 5th highest crime rate of 52 local areas in Castle & Newnham , and the 8th highest crime rate of 543 local areas in Bedford .

The streets immediately around this postcode mostly have high or very high crime levels, and on average the bordering areas are much more affected by crime than this postcode itself.

The overall crime rate in the area around Merchant Gate (MK40 1AS) in the last 12 months was 786.7 per 1,000 residents and was 274.6% higher than the Castle & Newnham average (210.0 per 1,000 residents). In the last 12 months, this area’s most reported crimes were Violence and sexual offences with 37 offences recorded. The least common crime was Other crime with 1 case , up 100.0% compared to 2024. The fastest-growing crime category was Anti-social behaviour ( 566.7% YoY). The sharpest decline was Burglary ( -60.0% YoY).

Violent crimes totalled 60 (≈ 400.0 per 1,000 residents). Year-over-year these were rising ( 172.7% ). Over the last decade, overall crime has falling ( -40.7% comparing early vs recent averages) .

In the area around Merchant Gate (MK40 1AS), the main crime hotspot is near Shopping Area. Police recorded 221 crimes here, including 123 violent or public-order offences. All these locations are within roughly 0.3 miles.

View Crime In Castle & Newnham

Crime Over Time in Merchant Gate area

Showing crimes within 0.3 miles (30/123)
Month:
MonthCrimeLocation*Last Outcome
Sep 2025Other theft Maitland Street Under investigation
Sep 2025Violence and sexual offences Horne Lane Under investigation
Sep 2025Shoplifting River Street Investigation complete; no suspect identified
Sep 2025Shoplifting River Street Investigation complete; no suspect identified
Sep 2025Bicycle theft Kingsway Under investigation
Sep 2025Violence and sexual offences River Street Under investigation
Sep 2025Violence and sexual offences River Street Investigation complete; no suspect identified
Sep 2025Anti-social behaviour Harpur Square —
Sep 2025Anti-social behaviour Harpur Square —
Sep 2025Burglary Harpur Square Awaiting court outcome
Sep 2025Bicycle theft Horne Lane Investigation complete; no suspect identified
Sep 2025Burglary Horne Lane Under investigation
Sep 2025Shoplifting Horne Lane Investigation complete; no suspect identified
Sep 2025Shoplifting Horne Lane Investigation complete; no suspect identified
Sep 2025Shoplifting Horne Lane Investigation complete; no suspect identified
Sep 2025Violence and sexual offences Paradine Court Under investigation
Sep 2025Shoplifting River Street Investigation complete; no suspect identified
Sep 2025Shoplifting Paradine Court Investigation complete; no suspect identified
Sep 2025Shoplifting Paradine Court Under investigation
Sep 2025Shoplifting Paradine Court Investigation complete; no suspect identified
Sep 2025Shoplifting Paradine Court Investigation complete; no suspect identified
Sep 2025Other theft Paradine Court Investigation complete; no suspect identified
Sep 2025Anti-social behaviour Paradine Court —
Sep 2025Other theft Harpur Square Investigation complete; no suspect identified
Sep 2025Other theft Harpur Square Under investigation
Sep 2025Other theft Harpur Square Under investigation
Sep 2025Public order Harpur Square Under investigation
Sep 2025Robbery Harpur Square Under investigation
Sep 2025Shoplifting Harpur Square Awaiting court outcome
Sep 2025Violence and sexual offences Harpur Square Investigation complete; no suspect identified
* on or near this location Page 1 • Showing 30 of 123

Data Sources

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.

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