Total Crime Rate

47.2 per 1,000 5/10 · Average

All offences · May 2025 - Apr 2026

Violent Crime Rate

19.9 per 1,000 4/10 · Low

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 47.2 5/10
  • Violent crimes 19.9 4/10
  • Violence and sexual offences 17.4 4/10
  • Anti-social behaviour 12.4 6/10
  • Vehicle crime 9.9 8/10
  • Bicycle theft 2.5 2/10
  • Burglary 2.5 1/10
  • Public order 2.5 1/10
  • Criminal damage and arson 0.0 1/10
  • Drugs 0.0 1/10
  • Other crime 0.0 1/10
  • Other theft 0.0 1/10
  • Possession of weapons 0.0 1/10
  • Robbery 0.0 1/10
  • Shoplifting 0.0 1/10
  • Theft from the person 0.0 1/10
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

Watercress Rise area has the 18th highest crime rate of 38 local areas in Biddenham , and the 219th lowest crime rate of 543 local areas in Bedford .

At least one of the neighbouring streets has high or very high crime levels. However, overall crime around this postcode is more mixed, with some nearby areas experiencing lower crime.

The overall crime rate in the area around Watercress Rise (MK40 4US) in the last 12 months was 47.2 per 1,000 residents and was 29.5% lower than the Biddenham average (66.9 per 1,000 residents). In the last 12 months, this area’s most reported crimes were Violence and sexual offences with 7 offences recorded. The least common crime was Bicycle theft with 1 case , unchanged from 2025. The fastest-growing crime category was Violence and sexual offences ( 133.3% YoY). Other major crime categories were broadly unchanged compared to 2025.

Violent crimes totalled 8 (≈ 19.9 per 1,000 residents). Year-over-year these were rising ( 100.0% ). Over the last decade, overall crime has falling ( -31.1% comparing early vs recent averages) .

In the area around Watercress Rise (MK40 4US), the main crime hotspot is near Holden Close. Police recorded 20 crimes here, including 8 violent or public-order offences. All these locations are within roughly 0.3 miles.

View Crime In Biddenham

Crime Over Time in Watercress Rise area

Showing crimes within 0.3 miles (4/4)
Month:
MonthCrimeLocation*Last Outcome
Apr 2026Anti-social behaviour Holden Close —
Apr 2026Burglary Otter Mews Under investigation
Apr 2026Violence and sexual offences Otter Mews Under investigation
Apr 2026Anti-social behaviour Holden Close —
* on or near this location Page 1 • Showing 4 of 4

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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