Wootton Bedford Crime Rate May 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Wootton (Bedford) maintained a crime rate of 4.2 per 1,000 residents in May 2023, 47.5% below the UK average of 8.0 per 1,000. This stark contrast to national trends underscores the area’s unique position within the UK crime profile. The most common crime types were violence and sexual offences (40% of total crimes) and anti-social behaviour (25%), with property crimes accounting for only 17.5% of the total. This distribution highlights a clear shift in the local crime profile, where interpersonal conflicts and disruptive behaviour dominate over theft or vandalism. The area’s built-up status—characterised by lower population density and fewer high-traffic zones—likely contributes to its crime profile, which diverges from the higher rates seen in major urban centres. Seasonal factors may also play a role, as May’s bank holidays and extended evenings could have influenced patterns of socialising and outdoor drinking, exacerbating anti-social behaviour. However, the relatively low rates of property crimes, such as bicycle theft and shoplifting, which are 80% and 68% below UK averages, respectively, suggest that the area’s limited retail density and smaller population may act as natural deterrents. These findings are particularly relevant for residents and visitors, as they indicate that while crime is not absent, it is infrequent and unlikely to disrupt daily life in the same way as in more densely populated or high-risk areas. The comparison to the UK average further reinforces the area’s distinct position within the national crime profile, where local factors such as community cohesion, policing strategies, and geographic characteristics may all contribute to its relatively low crime rates.

May 2023 saw a dramatic 900% increase in anti-social behaviour, rising from one reported incident to ten—a shift that, while significant, remains 17% below the UK average for the same category. This surge contrasts with a 75% decrease in criminal damage and arson, which fell from eight to two, aligning with the category’s 68% deficit relative to the UK average. The breakdown of crime types reveals a striking contrast: violence and sexual offences (40% of total crimes) and anti-social behaviour (25%) dominate, whereas property crimes account for only 17.5% of the total. This imbalance suggests a shift in crime dynamics, with interpersonal conflicts and disruptive behaviour taking precedence over theft or vandalism. Bicycle theft and shoplifting both remain far below UK averages—80% and 68% lower, respectively—potentially reflecting the area’s limited retail density or lower student population compared to urban centres. The sharp rise in anti-social behaviour may be linked to May’s bank holidays and extended evenings, which could have increased socialising and outdoor drinking. For residents, this suggests that community safety initiatives targeting public order may be particularly relevant during peak social periods.

Wootton (Bedford) maintained a crime rate of 4.2 per 1,000 residents in May 2023, 47.5% below the UK average of 8.0 per 1,000. This places the area significantly within the safer end of the national spectrum, a position reinforced by its built-up area classification. On a daily basis, the area saw approximately one crime reported each day over the 31-day period, a frequency that aligns with the low-density nature of the local population. Scaling this to the local population of 9,465, the monthly exposure translates to one reported crime for roughly every 237 residents, a figure that underscores the relatively low risk of victimisation compared to national trends. This context is particularly relevant for residents and visitors, as it suggests that while crime is not absent, it is infrequent and unlikely to disrupt daily life in the same way as in more densely populated or high-risk areas. The comparison to the UK average further highlights the area’s distinct position within the national crime profile, where Wootton’s lower rates may be influenced by its smaller scale, community-focused environment, or effective local policing strategies. The area’s built-up status—characterised by lower population density and fewer high-traffic zones—likely contributes to its crime profile, which contrasts sharply with the higher rates seen in major urban centres.