Rural Bedford Crime Rate February 2025 | Monthly Statistics

In February 2025, Rural Bedford maintained a crime rate of 4.3 per 1,000 residents, placing it 35.8% below the UK average of 6.7 per 1,000. This disparity, while significant, reflects the area’s unique characteristics as a built-up rural district where crime patterns diverge from national trends. The top crime types—violence and sexual offences (27.3% of total), anti-social behaviour (12.1%), and burglary (10.6%)—illustrate a mix of interpersonal and property-related issues. Violence and sexual offences, though lower than the UK average by 49%, remain a focal point, with 18 incidents reported. Anti-social behaviour, at 8 cases, is 48% below the UK average, suggesting effective community management or lower population density. Burglary, however, stands out as a local outlier, with 7 cases reported—85% above the UK average of 0.3 per 1,000. This contrast may be attributed to the area’s built-up nature, which could offer limited surveillance or create concentrated risk zones. The seasonal context of February—a winter month with low outdoor activity—may explain the lower prevalence of outdoor crimes but could also contribute to indoor-related offences like burglary and criminal damage. While the overall rate is low, the 35.8% gap from the UK average highlights the effectiveness of local crime prevention efforts, particularly in curbing violence and anti-social behaviour. However, the surge in burglary and criminal damage raises questions about targeted vulnerabilities in the area’s infrastructure or demographics, warranting further analysis.

February 2025 witnessed a stark 600% increase in burglary cases, rising from 1 to 7, a shift that may partly explain the area’s property crime dominance. This spike, though unexplained by available data, contrasts sharply with the 21.7% decrease in violence and sexual offences, which fell from 23 to 18. The latter decline aligns with the seasonal context of February, a winter month marked by low outdoor activity and a pre-spring lull. Meanwhile, criminal damage and arson surged by 133.3%, from 3 to 7, a jump that may reflect increased indoor activity or unseasonal weather patterns. Burglary in Rural Bedford is 85% above the UK average, a divergence that could stem from the area’s built-up nature and limited surveillance infrastructure. Conversely, shoplifting fell by 50%, from 2 to 1, a trend consistent with reduced foot traffic during the winter months. These fluctuations underscore the combination of local demographics and seasonal rhythms, offering residents a nuanced view of their immediate risk environment.

February 2025 saw an 8.0% increase in the crime rate compared to January 2025, rising from 4.0 to 4.3 per 1,000 residents. This shift, while modest, underscores the fluctuating nature of local crime patterns. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 2 crimes per day in February, a figure that, while low, reflects the persistent presence of criminal activity in a built-up rural setting. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 232 residents, a monthly exposure that translates to a 0.04% chance of being directly affected by crime. This statistic, when contextualised against the area’s population of 15,339, suggests that while the risk is not negligible, it remains significantly lower than the UK average. The population-scaled perspective reveals that the crime rate, though rising slightly, remains well below the national benchmark, with 35.8% fewer crimes per 1,000 residents than the UK overall. This contrast highlights the unique characteristics of Rural Bedford, where a mix of rural isolation and built-up infrastructure may contribute to a distinct crime profile.