Shefford Crime Rate October 2023 | Monthly Statistics

In October 2023, Shefford—a built-up area within Central Bedfordshire—recorded 44 crimes across its population of 7,701 residents, translating to a crime rate of 5.7 per 1,000. This figure is 28.7% below the UK average of 8.0 per 1,000, placing the area among the safer communities in the country. The most prevalent crime types were violence and sexual offences (31.8% of total crimes) and anti-social behaviour (22.7%), which together accounted for over half of all reported incidents. The lower-than-average rate for violent crime may be linked to Shefford's character as a relatively low-density built-up area, where community cohesion and limited nightlife contribute to reduced opportunities for such offences. Seasonal factors also appear to play a role: the transition into darker evenings in October, coupled with Halloween, may have influenced anti-social behaviour patterns. Meanwhile, property-related crimes—such as vehicle crime and burglary—were lower than UK averages, with vehicle crime at 0.7 per 1,000 (35% below the UK average) and burglary at 0.1 per 1,000 (71% below). This suggests that the area's spatial layout, featuring fewer high-traffic commercial zones, may reduce exposure to property crimes. The data also indicates a slight shift in the crime mix, with anti-social behaviour and violence dominating over property offences, a trend consistent with other small built-up areas where social dynamics and local policing strategies often influence crime profiles. While the overall rate remains low, the relative increase in drugs-related offences—jumping from zero to one case—raises questions about potential emerging challenges, though the small sample size means this should be interpreted cautiously. Overall, the crime picture for Shefford in October 2023 illustrates a community that, despite its proximity to larger urban centres, maintains a distinct profile of low-level, socially driven crime with limited exposure to more severe criminal activity.

October 2023 saw notable shifts in crime patterns, with drugs-related offences doubling from zero to one incident, marking a 100% increase. Other theft also rose by 33.3%, from three to four cases, though this remains below the UK average of 0.6 per 1,000. Conversely, burglary, criminal damage, and public order offences all halved compared to the previous month, with burglary dropping from two to one case. This reduction in property-related crimes may reflect seasonal factors, such as the approach of Halloween, which could influence both police presence and community vigilance. Violence and sexual offences, the most common category, remained 33% below the UK average, while anti-social behaviour—accounting for 22.7% of all crimes—was 2% above the national average. These contrasts highlight the area's unique balance of low-level crime and targeted issues, with the latter requiring continued attention from local authorities.

Shefford's crime rate in October 2023 stood at 5.7 per 1,000 residents, a 25.5% decrease from the previous month's rate of 7.7 per 1,000. This decline positions the area as safer compared to the UK average of 8.0 per 1,000. On a daily basis, the area recorded roughly one crime per day in October, reflecting a low-frequency pattern consistent with its built-up character. When scaled to the population, the monthly exposure translates to one reported crime for every 175 residents over the course of the month, a figure that underscores the relatively low level of criminal activity in Shefford. This population-scaled perspective highlights that the area's crime rate remains well below the national benchmark, suggesting effective local measures or environmental factors that contribute to sustained safety. The reduction from the prior month may partly reflect seasonal patterns, such as the transition into darker evenings and the approach of Halloween, which could influence both criminal activity and police visibility.