Rural Bedford Crime Rate October 2024 | Monthly Statistics

In October 2024, Rural Bedford maintained a crime rate of 4.6 per 1,000 residents, placing it 43.2% below the UK average of 8.1 per 1,000. This rural built-up area exhibits a distinct balance between property and violent crime, with property crimes (26 incidents) narrowly outpacing violent crimes (24 incidents). The most prevalent category was violence and sexual offences, contributing 34.3% of total crimes, though this rate remains 40% below the UK average. Anti-social behaviour followed at 17.1%, with a 38% deficit compared to national figures. Seasonal factors in October—such as darker evenings and Halloween—may influence patterns. Burglary (0.7 per 1,000) exceeds the UK average by 112%, suggesting localized vulnerabilities despite the area's generally low crime profile. This contrast between burglary and other crime types highlights the need for targeted prevention strategies in specific sectors. The area's character as a rural yet developed community with limited nightlife likely contributes to this divergence, where property-focused crimes persist while violent incidents remain comparatively low. The monthly data aligns with broader trends in similar rural areas, where property crime often dominates due to factors like agricultural land proximity or residential security gaps.

October 2024 saw notable shifts in crime trends within Rural Bedford. While overall crime fell by 14.8% from the previous month's rate of 5.4 per 1,000, the balance between property and violent crime remained tight, with property crimes (26) marginally outnumbering violent crimes (24). This suggests no significant shift in the dominant crime type, though the UK average for violence and sexual offences (2.7 per 1,000) was 40% below the local rate. A sharp increase in 'other crime' (2 incidents, +100% month-on-month) and a 71.4% drop in 'other theft' (from 7 to 2) indicate fluctuating patterns in less common categories. Burglary rates (0.7 per 1,000) stood 112% above the UK average, pointing to a specific risk area despite the overall low crime environment. Vehicle crime also decreased by 41.7% (12 to 7), possibly linked to seasonal changes in parking habits or increased patrols. Conversely, shoplifting and theft from the person both rose from zero to one incident each, highlighting new vulnerabilities. These shifts underscore the importance of localized policing efforts, particularly in addressing burglary risks and monitoring emerging trends in minor crimes.

Rural Bedford's October 2024 crime rate of 4.6 per 1,000 residents marked a 14.8% decrease from the previous month's rate of 5.4, reflecting a downward trend in local crime. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately two crimes per day, a figure that, while modest, illustrates the ongoing presence of criminal activity in this built-up rural community. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 219 residents, a monthly exposure rate that is significantly lower than the UK average when scaled to population size. This statistic provides a tangible measure for residents, indicating that the likelihood of experiencing a crime is relatively low compared to national benchmarks. The population context further emphasizes the area's safety profile, with 15,339 residents sharing a crime burden that is 43.2% below the UK average. While the overall rate remains favorable, the 112% above-average burglary rate highlights a specific area for improvement. These comparative figures position Rural Bedford as a relatively secure area within the UK's broader crime profile, though targeted interventions may be needed to address the outlier category of burglary.