Kempston Crime Rate September 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Kempston's crime profile in September 2023 reveals a nuanced balance between property and violent crimes, with the latter dominating at 63 incidents compared to 55 property-related offences. The overall crime rate of 7.6 per 1,000 residents places the area 5% below the UK average, a figure that suggests a generally safer environment relative to national trends. However, the dominance of violent crimes, particularly violence and sexual offences (40.4% of total incidents), signals a need for targeted community and policing strategies. This category's rate of 3.1 per 1,000 residents is 13% above the UK average, a discrepancy that may be linked to factors such as the area's built-up nature and the influence of seasonal transitions, including the return to school and university term starts. Meanwhile, burglary emerged as a significant concern, with Kempston's rate of 0.8 per 1,000 residents 150% above the UK average of 0.3 per 1,000. This stark contrast could reflect vulnerabilities in residential security or the presence of high-value properties in the area. Anti-social behaviour, in contrast, was 48% below the UK average, a trend that may be attributed to local initiatives or community engagement efforts. The seasonal context of September—marked by back-to-school activities and the onset of cooler weather—likely influenced patterns of crime, with increased social interactions contributing to higher violent crime rates. These findings underscore the importance of contextualising crime data within the specific characteristics of Kempston, a built-up area within Bedford, where local dynamics and seasonal rhythms shape the crime profile.

September 2023 saw a notable shift in the crime mix, with violent crimes (63) outnumbering property crimes (55), a pattern that may reflect seasonal factors such as back-to-school activities and the start of university terms. Among the month-on-month changes, 'Other crime' surged by 300% (1 to 4), while bicycle theft doubled (1 to 3), indicating emerging trends that warrant attention. Conversely, anti-social behaviour dropped by 58.8% (34 to 14), a decline that could be linked to targeted local interventions or changes in community dynamics. The crime rate for violence and sexual offences in Kempston was 3.1 per 1,000 residents, 13% above the UK average of 2.7 per 1,000. This disparity highlights the area's unique challenges compared to national benchmarks. Burglary also stood out, with Kempston's rate of 0.8 per 1,000 residents 150% above the UK average of 0.3 per 1,000, a figure that may be influenced by the area's built-up character and potential vulnerabilities in residential security.

Kempston's September 2023 crime rate of 7.6 per 1,000 residents marks a 2.5% decrease from the previous month's rate of 7.7, reflecting a slight downward trend. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately five reported crimes per day, a figure that contextualises the frequency of incidents within the local community. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 132 residents, a metric that provides a snapshot of the monthly exposure to crime. This rate, while slightly below the UK average, underscores the importance of community vigilance and local policing efforts. The population context, with Kempston home to 20,665 residents, further highlights the relative scale of crime within a built-up area. This comparison illustrates that while Kempston's crime rate is marginally lower than the national average, the localised impact remains significant for residents. The data also suggests that the slight decline may be influenced by seasonal factors, such as the transition from summer to autumn, which can affect community activity patterns and policing priorities.