Wootton (Bedford) Crime Rate January 2026 | Monthly Statistics

In January 2026, Wootton (Bedford) maintained a crime rate of 2.8 per 1,000 residents, a figure 58.8% below the UK average of 6.8 per 1,000. This stark contrast underscores the area’s relatively low risk profile, even as local patterns reveal specific trends. Violence and sexual offences dominated the crime profile, contributing 69.2% of all reported incidents. This category’s rate—1.9 per 1,000—remains 24% below the UK average, a reflection of the built-up area’s possibly lower exposure to violent crime compared to more densely populated or high-traffic urban centres. Other theft, at 0.3 per 1,000, is 35% below the UK rate, while anti-social behaviour, at 0.2 per 1,000, is 78% below the national average. These figures suggest that Wootton’s community, though not immune to crime, benefits from factors such as lower population density, effective local policing, or socio-economic stability. Seasonal context for January—marked by post-holiday lulls, shorter days, and reduced retail footfall—may contribute to the area’s subdued crime levels, particularly for outdoor-related offences. However, the presence of violent crimes at such a high proportion (69.2%) raises questions about localized factors, such as community dynamics or targeted incidents, that could warrant further analysis. The overall picture, though reassuring, highlights the need for continued monitoring of specific categories like shoplifting and other crime, which saw notable increases in January.

January 2026 marked notable shifts in crime patterns for Wootton (Bedford). Shoplifting increased by 100% from 0 to 1 incident, while other crime also rose by 100%, moving from 0 to 2. These jumps, though small in absolute terms, suggest potential changes in local dynamics, such as increased retail activity or targeted behaviour. Conversely, anti-social behaviour fell by 50%, from 4 to 2 incidents, possibly reflecting seasonal factors like shorter daylight hours reducing public gatherings. The breakdown of crime types reveals that violence and sexual offences—accounting for 69.2% of total crimes—remain significantly lower than the UK average for this category (2.5 per 1,000). Other theft, at 0.3 per 1,000, is 35% below the UK rate of 0.5 per 1,000, highlighting Wootton’s relatively secure environment for property. Residents may find the 23.9% monthly increase in crime rate a useful indicator of trends, though it remains far below national levels.

Wootton (Bedford) saw a 23.9% increase in its crime rate from 2.2 per 1,000 in December 2025 to 2.8 per 1,000 in January 2026. This rise, though modest, contrasts with the broader UK average of 6.8 per 1,000, placing Wootton 58.8% below the national figure. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately one reported crime every 31 days, a figure that contextualises the low frequency of incidents for residents. Over the course of January, one crime occurred for roughly every 364 residents, illustrating that the likelihood of encountering crime in this built-up area remains exceptionally low compared to the UK average. This monthly exposure statistic, when considered alongside the area’s population of 9,465, reinforces that most residents are unlikely to be directly affected by crime. The increase in January may reflect seasonal shifts, such as post-holiday economic activity or changes in foot traffic without further data.