Total Crime Rate

1197.7 per 1,000 10/10 · Very High

All offences · May 2025 - Apr 2026

Violent Crime Rate

610.5 per 1,000 10/10 · Very High

May 2025 - Apr 2026
Latest update: 06.06.2026 Crime figures are sourced from data.police.uk and are typically published with a 3-month delay.
Crime rate per 1000 residents
  • All crimes 1197.7 10/10
  • Violent crimes 610.5 10/10
  • Violence and sexual offences 418.6 10/10
  • Anti-social behaviour 154.1 10/10
  • Shoplifting 142.4 9/10
  • Public order 136.6 10/10
  • Drugs 75.6 10/10
  • Criminal damage and arson 66.9 10/10
  • Burglary 55.2 10/10
  • Robbery 32.0 10/10
  • Other theft 26.2 10/10
  • Bicycle theft 23.3 10/10
  • Possession of weapons 23.3 10/10
  • Vehicle crime 20.4 10/10
  • Theft from the person 14.5 9/10
  • Other crime 8.7 9/10
Values shown per 1,000 residents · May 2025 - Apr 2026 · Rating compares this oa to UK peers of the same type.
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Crime overview

Howard Street area has the 4th highest crime rate of 51 local areas in Castle & Newnham , and the 5th highest crime rate of 543 local areas in Bedford .

Crime levels at this postcode are much higher than in the adjoining streets, suggesting that most neighbouring areas are relatively safer than this one.

The overall crime rate in the area around Howard Street (MK40 3HS) in the last 12 months was 1197.7 per 1,000 residents and was 466.4% higher than the Castle & Newnham average (211.5 per 1,000 residents). In the last 12 months, this area’s most reported crimes were Violence and sexual offences with 144 offences recorded. The least common crime was Other crime with 3 cases , down -40.0% compared to 2025. The fastest-growing crime category was Robbery ( 37.5% YoY). The sharpest decline was Bicycle theft ( -42.9% YoY).

Violent crimes totalled 210 (≈ 610.5 per 1,000 residents). Year-over-year these were rising ( 7.1% ). Over the last decade, overall crime has falling ( -64.3% comparing early vs recent averages) .

In the area around Howard Street (MK40 3HS), the main crime hotspot is near High Street. Police recorded 149 crimes here, including 90 violent or public-order offences. All these locations are within roughly 0.3 miles.

View Crime In Bedford

Crime Over Time in Howard Street area

Showing crimes within 0.3 miles (30/137)
Month:
MonthCrimeLocation*Last Outcome
Apr 2026Anti-social behaviour Paradine Court —
Apr 2026Violence and sexual offences Theatre/Concert Hall Investigation complete; no suspect identified
Apr 2026Anti-social behaviour Parking Area —
Apr 2026Violence and sexual offences Parking Area Under investigation
Apr 2026Violence and sexual offences Parking Area Under investigation
Apr 2026Other crime Parking Area Under investigation
Apr 2026Anti-social behaviour Castle Lane —
Apr 2026Anti-social behaviour Castle Lane —
Apr 2026Anti-social behaviour Howard Street —
Apr 2026Burglary Castle Lane Under investigation
Apr 2026Public order Silver Street Investigation complete; no suspect identified
Apr 2026Public order Silver Street Under investigation
Apr 2026Criminal damage and arson Shopping Area Under investigation
Apr 2026Drugs Shopping Area Under investigation
Apr 2026Other theft Shopping Area Investigation complete; no suspect identified
Apr 2026Other theft Shopping Area Under investigation
Apr 2026Anti-social behaviour Parking Area —
Apr 2026Shoplifting St Peter'S Street Investigation complete; no suspect identified
Apr 2026Theft from the person Shopping Area Under investigation
Apr 2026Violence and sexual offences Nightclub Unable to prosecute suspect
Apr 2026Public order Supermarket Investigation complete; no suspect identified
Apr 2026Robbery Supermarket Under investigation
Apr 2026Shoplifting Supermarket Under investigation
Apr 2026Anti-social behaviour Nightclub —
Apr 2026Shoplifting Silver Street Under investigation
Apr 2026Drugs Nightclub Under investigation
Apr 2026Violence and sexual offences Nightclub Under investigation
Apr 2026Other theft Castle Lane Investigation complete; no suspect identified
Apr 2026Violence and sexual offences Supermarket Under investigation
Apr 2026Violence and sexual offences Supermarket Local resolution
* on or near this location Page 1 • Showing 30 of 137

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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