Dunstable Crime Rate April 2023 | Monthly Statistics

For every 1,000 residents in Dunstable, 6.3 crimes were reported in April 2023 — a rate 16% below the UK average of 7.5 per 1,000. This translates to roughly one reported crime for every 160 residents over the course of the month, offering a tangible sense of risk for local households. The most frequent crimes were anti-social behaviour (23.8%) and violence and sexual offences (23.8%), both of which reflect patterns often seen in built-up areas with significant public spaces. The spring season, with its increased outdoor activity around Easter and warmer weather, likely contributed to a mix of crimes, including public order incidents and anti-social behaviour. Violent crime rates in Dunstable were 42% below the UK average, suggesting a lower prevalence of serious assaults compared to the national picture. Property crimes accounted for 35% of total offences (74 out of 210), with shoplifting and vehicle crime remaining consistent with seasonal trends. While anti-social behaviour rates were 27% above the UK average, this may be influenced by the local character of Dunstable as a town with a mix of residential and commercial zones. The relatively low burglary rate (4.3% of all crimes) contrasts with higher rates of anti-social behaviour, indicating a distinct crime profile shaped by community dynamics and local infrastructure.

April 2023 saw a 66.7% increase in anti-social behaviour, rising from 30 to 50 incidents — a significant shift that may reflect heightened social interactions during the Easter holiday period. Violence and sexual offences decreased by 37.5%, falling from 80 to 50, a drop that aligns with seasonal patterns where outdoor activity typically reduces opportunities for indoor crimes. The rate of anti-social behaviour in Dunstable was 27% above the UK average (1.5 vs 1.2 per 1,000), a discrepancy that may be linked to the town’s built-up area status and the density of public spaces. In contrast, violent crime rates were 42% below the UK average (1.5 vs 2.6 per 1,000), suggesting a lower incidence of serious assaults compared to the national trend. The only crime category to show a 100% increase was possession of weapons, which rose from 0 to 1 incident — a rare but noteworthy spike that could indicate isolated incidents rather than a broader trend. Theft from the person also doubled (from 2 to 4 incidents), a change that may be attributed to increased foot traffic during the Easter period. These fluctuations highlight the dynamic nature of local crime patterns and the importance of contextual factors in shaping monthly statistics.

Dunstable’s crime rate in April 2023 (6.3 per 1,000) was slightly lower than the previous month’s rate (6.4 per 1,000), marking a 2.3% decrease. On a daily basis, this equates to approximately 7 crimes reported each day — a figure that provides a concrete sense of the local crime environment. Over the course of the month, 1 in 160 residents experienced a reported crime, a statistic that frames the risk in terms of individual likelihood rather than aggregate numbers. When compared to the UK average, Dunstable’s overall rate remains 16% lower, a difference that may reflect the town’s character as a built-up area with a lower density of high-risk environments compared to larger urban centres. The population-scaled perspective is particularly useful for residents: with 33,531 people in Dunstable, the 210 reported crimes represent a manageable proportion of the community, though the increase in anti-social behaviour and the doubling of theft from the person incidents suggest areas for local vigilance. These comparisons underscore the importance of viewing crime data through both absolute and relative lenses to fully understand the local context.