Wootton (Bedford) Crime Rate October 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Violence and sexual offences accounted for 60.7% of all crimes in Wootton (Bedford) during October 2023, a rate of 1.8 per 1,000 residents—33% below the UK average for this category. This stark contrast to the national trend highlights a unique local dynamic, where violent crime remains significantly lower than in most parts of the UK despite the area’s built-up character. The overall crime rate of 3.0 per 1,000 residents, 62.5% below the UK average of 8.0, suggests a community with comparatively strong social cohesion or effective local policing strategies. Anti-social behaviour and public order offences also fell far below national averages, at 69% and 32% respectively, though these figures may reflect the area’s smaller scale or lower population density. Seasonal factors in October—darker evenings, the transition to British Summer Time, and the proximity of Halloween—likely influence crime patterns, though the low overall rate suggests these factors have not driven significant spikes. The dominance of violent crime over property crime (17 vs 3) is unusual for a built-up area, potentially indicating localised issues such as targeted incidents or underreporting of property crimes. This profile contrasts with typical urban centres where property crime often exceeds violent crime, suggesting Wootton’s crime profile is shaped by distinct socio-economic or demographic factors.

Violence and sexual offences saw a 30.8% month-on-month increase in October, rising from 13 to 17 cases, while public order offences doubled from 0 to 4. This surge in violent crime, though still well below the UK average, raises questions about local triggers such as seasonal transitions or community tensions. Conversely, anti-social behaviour fell by 20%, and other theft dropped 50% as one case was reported compared to two in September. The category of burglary also doubled from 0 to 2, a stark increase that may reflect heightened activity during darker evenings or targeted opportunities in the area. Violent crime rates in Wootton remain 33% below the UK average of 2.7 per 1,000, indicating a consistent local trend even as the category rises. For residents, the 1-in-338 monthly exposure to crime (based on 28 total crimes over 9,465 residents) offers a tangible measure of safety, though the sharp increase in violent incidents warrants attention. The contrast between rising violent crime and falling property crime underscores a shift in the local crime mix, potentially influenced by October’s seasonal context, including Halloween-related activity and reduced daylight hours.

The crime rate in Wootton (Bedford) rose by 7.6% from 2.8 to 3.0 per 1,000 residents between September and October 2023, a modest increase within a historically low overall context. On a daily basis, the area experienced roughly 1 crime per day in October, a figure that, while low, may appear higher to residents due to the sharp rise in violent incidents. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 338 residents, a monthly exposure rate that places Wootton among the safest areas in the UK. This statistic, when scaled to the population of 9,465, illustrates that the vast majority of residents are unaffected by crime, though the concentration of violent offences may create localized concerns. Comparing this to the UK average of 8.0 per 1,000, Wootton’s rate remains 62.5% lower, a disparity that could be attributed to factors such as the area’s built-up nature, community policing efforts, or demographic characteristics. The relatively low daily crime count, combined with the area’s small population, reinforces the notion that Wootton is a community where crime is rare but not absent, with the recent uptick in violent offences serving as an anomaly within an otherwise stable profile.