Cranfield Crime Rate January 2026 | Monthly Statistics

In January 2026, Cranfield's crime rate of 2.9 per 1,000 residents stood at 57.4% below the UK average of 6.8 per 1,000. The two most prevalent crime categories were anti-social behaviour and violence and sexual offences, each contributing 26.1% of total reported crimes. Vehicle crime followed with 21.7%, a figure that placed it 62% above the UK average for this category. The seasonal context of January—a post-holiday period with reduced retail footfall and shorter daylight hours—likely contributed to the lower overall crime rate compared to busier months. Anti-social behaviour, which accounted for six incidents, may be influenced by the area's built-up nature and limited public spaces. Violence and sexual offences, despite being 68% below the UK average, suggest a need for targeted community engagement strategies. The relatively low rate of property crimes, particularly burglary and shoplifting, aligns with the area's character as a smaller, less densely populated built-up area within Central Bedfordshire. This pattern contrasts with larger urban centres where property crime often dominates. The data illustrates a crime profile shaped by both seasonal factors and the local environment, with anti-social behaviour and interpersonal offences emerging as the primary concerns.

January 2026 saw a 200% increase in anti-social behaviour incidents, rising from two to six, marking the most significant month-on-month change. This surge, coupled with a 100% rise in both burglary and possession of weapons—each moving from zero to one incident—suggests emerging patterns requiring attention. Conversely, public order offences fell by two-thirds (from three to one), as did drugs-related crimes, reflecting a possible shift in local dynamics. Anti-social behaviour's rate of 0.8 per 1,000 was 14% below the UK average for this category, indicating a lower prevalence of such incidents in Cranfield compared to national trends. Vehicle crime, at 0.6 per 1,000, stood 62% above the UK average, highlighting a specific vulnerability in this category. For residents, the 62% above UK average for vehicle crime offers a concrete insight: local measures such as increased CCTV coverage or community patrols might be warranted. The contrast between vehicle crime's elevated rate and the overall low crime rate underscores the need for targeted interventions in specific categories, even as the area maintains a generally safer profile than the national average.

Cranfield's January 2026 crime rate of 2.9 per 1,000 marked a 4.2% decrease from December 2025's rate of 3.1 per 1,000, reflecting a slight but consistent trend toward lower crime levels. Over the course of January, the area experienced approximately one reported crime per day, a figure that, while low, remains relevant for local awareness. On a monthly scale, one crime occurred for roughly every 340 residents, translating to a 1-in-340 chance of being directly affected by a reported crime. This statistic, when considered alongside the area's population of 7,824, illustrates a crime environment where most residents are unlikely to encounter a crime during the month. The comparison to the previous month highlights a gradual decline, potentially influenced by seasonal factors such as reduced foot traffic during January's shorter days. While the overall rate remains well below the UK average, the specific vulnerabilities—such as vehicle crime being 62% above the UK average—suggest that certain crime categories warrant closer monitoring. These figures provide a nuanced perspective, showing that while Cranfield is generally safer than the national average, targeted efforts may still be necessary to address areas where local rates diverge from UK norms.