Total Crime Rate

82.6 per 1,000 7/10 · High

All offences · May 2025 - Apr 2026

Violent Crime Rate

53.0 per 1,000 8/10 · 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 82.6 7/10
  • Violent crimes 53.0 8/10
  • Violence and sexual offences 40.3 8/10
  • Anti-social behaviour 12.7 6/10
  • Drugs 6.4 7/10
  • Possession of weapons 6.4 8/10
  • Public order 4.2 4/10
  • Bicycle theft 2.1 1/10
  • Burglary 2.1 1/10
  • Criminal damage and arson 2.1 1/10
  • Other crime 2.1 1/10
  • Robbery 2.1 1/10
  • Vehicle crime 2.1 1/10
  • Other theft 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

Oswald Close area has the 7th highest crime rate of 28 local areas in Shortstown , and the 181st highest 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 Oswald Close (MK42 0FY) in the last 12 months was 82.6 per 1,000 residents and was 2.1% lower than the Shortstown average (84.4 per 1,000 residents). In the last 12 months, this area’s most reported crimes were Violence and sexual offences with 19 offences recorded. The least common crime was Bicycle theft with 1 case , up 100.0% compared to 2025. The fastest-growing crime category was Drugs ( 200.0% YoY). The sharpest decline was Anti-social behaviour ( -14.3% YoY).

Violent crimes totalled 25 (≈ 53.0 per 1,000 residents). Year-over-year these were rising ( 13.6% ). Over the last decade, overall crime has falling ( -39.5% comparing early vs recent averages) .

In the area around Oswald Close (MK42 0FY), the highest concentration of overall crime is near Horace Close, where police recorded 95 incidents. Violent and public-order offences occur most often near De Havilland Avenue (12 offences). Both locations lie within roughly 0.3 miles of this postcode area.

View Crime In Shortstown

Crime Over Time in Oswald Close area

Showing crimes within 0.3 miles (17/17)
Month:
MonthCrimeLocation*Last Outcome
Apr 2026Violence and sexual offences Cheshire Drive Under investigation
Apr 2026Anti-social behaviour Carmichael Drive —
Apr 2026Anti-social behaviour Cheshire Drive —
Apr 2026Violence and sexual offences Cheshire Drive Unable to prosecute suspect
Apr 2026Burglary Atherstone Close Under investigation
Apr 2026Violence and sexual offences Tempest Crescent Investigation complete; no suspect identified
Apr 2026Bicycle theft Oswald Close Unable to prosecute suspect
Apr 2026Violence and sexual offences Blackburn Close Under investigation
Apr 2026Shoplifting Horace Close Awaiting court outcome
Apr 2026Violence and sexual offences Atherstone Close Under investigation
Apr 2026Violence and sexual offences Atherstone Close Under investigation
Apr 2026Other crime Carmichael Drive Local resolution
Apr 2026Drugs Horace Close Under investigation
Apr 2026Public order The Highway Under investigation
Apr 2026Burglary Compass Drive Under investigation
Apr 2026Shoplifting Garland Court Investigation complete; no suspect identified
Apr 2026Violence and sexual offences Atherstone Close Investigation complete; no suspect identified
* on or near this location Page 1 • Showing 17 of 17

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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