Bedford Crime Rate July 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Violence and sexual offences dominated Bedford’s crime profile in July 2023, accounting for 34.5% of all reported incidents. With a total crime rate of 7.5 per 1,000 residents, Bedford recorded 1,471 crimes, placing it 9.6% below the UK average of 8.3 per 1,000. This lower-than-average rate may be attributed to Bedford’s character as a commuter town with a mix of urban and suburban areas, where community policing and local initiatives have historically reduced crime. Anti-social behaviour (18.4%) and public order offences (7.9%) followed as the next most common categories, reflecting the influence of summer festivals and high foot traffic in public spaces. The seasonal context of July—characterised by school holidays, tourism, and outdoor events—likely contributed to the rise in bicycle theft and theft from the person, as more residents and visitors are active outdoors. However, the drop in shoplifting and burglary suggests that retail and property security measures may have been effective. While violent crime remains a concern, its rate is 6% below the UK average, highlighting Bedford’s relative success in managing this category. The data also shows that Bedford’s rates for criminal damage, burglary, and shoplifting are significantly below UK averages, due to a lower prevalence of high-risk areas compared to larger cities. Overall, the crime profile in Bedford illustrates a balance between seasonal fluctuations and sustained efforts to maintain safety.

July 2023 saw significant fluctuations in specific crime categories. Bicycle theft surged by 100% compared to June, rising from 13 to 26 incidents. This sharp increase may partly explain the rise in theft from the person, which climbed by 46.2% (13 to 19). These trends could reflect heightened outdoor activity during summer festivals and events. Conversely, burglary dropped by 38.6% (57 to 35), likely due to increased police presence or community awareness campaigns. Shoplifting also fell by 33.6% (107 to 71), linked to improved retail security measures. Bedford’s violent crime rate (2.6 per 1,000) is 6% below the UK average (2.8 per 1,000), suggesting effective strategies in managing violent incidents. However, vehicle crime in Bedford (0.5 per 1,000) is 4% above the UK average (0.5 per 1,000), indicating a need for targeted action in this area.

Bedford’s crime rate in July 2023 remained stable compared to June, with a -1.0% decrease from 7.6 to 7.5 per 1,000 residents. This minor fluctuation suggests consistent policing and community engagement efforts. On a daily basis, approximately 47 crimes were reported each day in July, reflecting the area’s ongoing exposure to criminal activity. Over the course of the month, one crime occurred for every 133 residents, a figure that contextualises the scale of incidents relative to Bedford’s population of 194,976. This monthly exposure rate is lower than the UK average in most categories, particularly for shoplifting, burglary, and criminal damage. However, vehicle crime and drug-related offences in Bedford slightly exceed UK averages, indicating areas for targeted intervention. The population-scaled perspective highlights that while Bedford is not immune to crime, its overall profile aligns with broader UK trends in most categories, except for a few notable exceptions.