Wootton (Bedford) Crime Rate November 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Wootton (Bedford) continues to demonstrate a crime profile significantly lower than the UK average, with a total crime rate of 1.7 per 1,000 residents in November 2023. This figure represents a 77.3% deficit compared to the national average of 7.5 per 1,000, underscoring the area's status as one of the safer communities within Bedfordshire. The most prevalent crime type was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 37.5% of total incidents (6 cases), followed by public order offences (31.3%, 5 cases). These figures are strikingly lower than their respective UK averages, with violence and sexual offences being 77% below the national rate and public order offences 6% below. The seasonal context of November—marked by Bonfire Night, Black Friday shopping, and the onset of darker evenings—likely contributes to the observed patterns. While the increased foot traffic and extended retail hours associated with Black Friday may have temporarily elevated public order concerns, the overall trend of reduced violent crime suggests a broader success in community safety initiatives. The low burglary rate (0.1 per 1,000) and anti-social behaviour incidents (0.1 per 1,000) further reinforce the area's character as a relatively low-risk environment. These metrics, combined with the month-on-month reductions in violent crime, indicate a stable and improving local crime profile that aligns with the area's built-up, residential nature.

November 2023 saw a 64.7% reduction in violence and sexual offences, dropping from 17 incidents in October to 6. This decline, coupled with a 75% decrease in anti-social behaviour (from 4 to 1), reflects a marked improvement in public safety. Meanwhile, public order offences rose by 25%, increasing from 4 to 5 incidents, though this remains well below the UK average of 0.5 per 1,000. Other crime and criminal damage and arson both saw 100% increases, rising from zero to one incident each. These isolated spikes contrast sharply with the broader trend of declining violent crime. The breakdown shows that violent crimes now account for 37.5% of total incidents, compared to 31.3% for public order offences, indicating a shift in the crime mix towards more serious categories. A resident would note that anti-social behaviour, which had been a persistent issue, has seen a significant and welcome reduction.

Wootton (Bedford)'s crime rate in November 2023 fell to 1.7 per 1,000 residents, a 42.9% drop from the previous month's 3.0 per 1,000. This decline aligns with a broader trend of reduced violent crime, which fell by 64.7% to 6 incidents. When viewed daily, the area experienced approximately one reported crime every 30 days, a figure that contextualises the low frequency of incidents relative to the local population. Over the course of the month, one crime occurred for roughly every 592 residents, highlighting the relatively sparse nature of criminal activity in this built-up area. This monthly exposure rate is significantly lower than the UK average, which stands at 7.5 per 1,000. The population-scaled perspective reveals that the likelihood of encountering crime in Wootton is markedly less than the national average, reinforcing the area's status as one of the safer communities within Bedfordshire. These figures, when combined with the month-on-month reduction, suggest a sustained period of stability in local crime patterns.