Bedford Crime Rate July 2025 | Monthly Statistics

Violence and sexual offences dominated Bedford's crime profile in July 2025, accounting for 37.2% of all reported crimes. This category, at 3.5 per 1,000 residents, exceeded the UK average by 15%, highlighting a significant local challenge. The overall crime rate of 9.3 per 1,000 residents marked an 8.1% increase over the UK average of 8.6, underscoring Bedford's position as an area with above-average crime concerns. Anti-social behaviour and public order offences also contributed at 17.1% and 7.5% of total crimes respectively, both exceeding UK rates. The summer season likely played a role in these patterns, with festivals, outdoor events, and schools being out potentially increasing foot traffic and opportunities for crime. While property crimes such as shoplifting and burglary accounted for 14.8% of all incidents, the rise in violent crime suggests a need for targeted interventions in public spaces. This contrast with the UK average for certain categories—such as other theft, which was 9% below the national rate—indicates that Bedford's crime profile has unique drivers. The interplay between seasonal factors and local demographics, such as the presence of tourist attractions or commercial hubs, may explain these trends. However, direct causal links, and further analysis would be needed to fully understand the underlying dynamics.

July 2025 saw a sharp 63.3% rise in bicycle theft, with incidents increasing from 30 to 49. This surge may partly explain the 3.6% increase in overall theft-related crimes. Burglary also rose by 42.5%, reflecting a possible shift in property crime patterns during the summer. Conversely, vehicle crime fell by 35.2%, a drop that could be linked to reduced car usage during school holidays. Violence and sexual offences remained the dominant category, contributing 37.2% of all crimes and sitting 15% above the UK average. Anti-social behaviour and public order offences also exceeded UK rates, with the former 3% above and the latter 9% above. These figures suggest that public spaces may be experiencing heightened tensions or increased activity during the summer. For residents, the 1-in-107 residents figure provides a tangible measure of risk over the course of the month.

Bedford's crime rate in July 2025 rose to 9.3 per 1,000 residents, a 12.3% increase from the previous month's 8.3. This places the area 8.1% above the UK average of 8.6. Daily crime figures show 59 crimes reported each day, reflecting a persistent local challenge. Over the course of July, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 107 residents, highlighting the frequency of incidents within the population. While this rate is higher than the UK average, the local context suggests that factors such as seasonal events and tourism may contribute to the pattern. The population of 194,976 means that the absolute number of crimes, though concerning, remains relatively distributed across the area. Comparisons to the UK average should be contextualised, as Bedford's character—likely a mix of urban and suburban areas—may influence crime dynamics differently than more densely populated regions.