Harlington, a built-up area within Central Bedfordshire, exhibits a crime rate considerably lower than the national average. The crime rate in Harlington stands at 52.6 incidents per 1,000 residents. To put this in perspective, the UK average is 91.6 incidents per 1,000 people. This suggests that Harlington is, on paper, a relatively safe place to reside.
Comparing Harlington to its immediate neighbours provides a more nuanced picture. Westoning has a crime rate of 33.6 per 1,000, significantly lower than Harlington's, while Toddington’s crime rate is notably higher at 97.0 per 1,000. Two nearby areas, Chalton and Pulloxhill, report a crime rate of 0.0 per 1,000, indicating exceptionally low levels of recorded crime. It's important to note that a '0' rate doesn’t necessarily mean no crime occurs, but rather that no crimes were reported or recorded within the given data.
Beyond the raw crime rate, Harlington also boasts a safety score of 87 out of 100. The UK average safety score is 79, further reinforcing Harlington’s perceived safety. A higher safety score generally reflects a combination of lower crime rates, a greater sense of community safety, and potentially lower levels of perceived risk.
While these statistics paint a reassuring picture, it’s vital to remember that crime data represents reported incidents. It doesn't account for unreported crime or subjective feelings of safety. Local conditions and individual experiences can vary greatly. Furthermore, crime rates are dynamic and can fluctuate over time, although the provided data only reflects the period examined.