Shefford Crime Rate October 2025 | Monthly Statistics

For an area with a population of 7,701, 50 crimes reported in October 2025 translates to one crime for every 154 residents over the course of the month. This rate of 6.5 per 1,000 residents places Shefford 15.6% below the UK average of 7.7 per 1,000. The crime profile shows a clear focus on property-related offences, with shoplifting accounting for 30% of all incidents (15 cases) and violence and sexual offences making up 26% (13 cases). Anti-social behaviour (10 cases) and drugs (4 cases) round out the top four categories. Seasonal factors likely contribute to these patterns, as October brings darker evenings, the transition to winter, and the Halloween period, which may increase opportunities for shoplifting and public order incidents. The area’s relatively low overall crime rate suggests a stable environment, though the sharp rise in shoplifting compared to the UK average indicates specific local vulnerabilities. The contrast between property and violent crime shares is notable: property crimes (21 cases) outnumber violent crimes (13 cases) by 57%, a balance consistent with a mixed-use built-up area where retail and community spaces coexist. This distribution may reflect the presence of local shops and businesses, which could attract opportunistic theft while also maintaining a degree of community oversight that deters more severe violent incidents.

October 2025 saw notable month-on-month increases in burglary (+100%), anti-social behaviour (+100%), and shoplifting (+66.7%). These jumps suggest shifting dynamics in the area’s crime profile. The rise in burglary, from zero to one incident, may signal a temporary vulnerability in property security, though the overall rate remains well below the UK average for burglary (0.3 per 1,000). Anti-social behaviour’s doubling to 10 cases could be linked to Halloween activities or seasonal gatherings, which often increase public space interactions. Shoplifting’s 66.7% increase to 15 cases—217% above the UK average of 0.6 per 1,000—highlights a specific challenge for local retailers. This category’s dominance (30% of total crimes) is starkly higher than the UK average, driven by the area’s built-up character and the presence of retail outlets. Meanwhile, violent crime remains lower than the UK average, with violence and sexual offences at 1.7 per 1,000 (36% below the UK rate of 2.7 per 1,000). This suggests a relatively low incidence of serious violence, which may be attributable to the area’s demographic profile or community-focused policing efforts. The drugs category (4 cases) is 79% above the UK average of 0.3 per 1,000, indicating a need for targeted interventions in this area. These findings offer a nuanced picture of Shefford’s crime trends, where property-related issues dominate but violent crime remains comparatively low.

Compared to the previous month, Shefford’s crime rate rose by 25.0% from 5.2 to 6.5 per 1,000 residents. This increase, while significant, still keeps the area below the UK average. On a daily basis, the 50 crimes reported in October equate to roughly two incidents per day—a figure that may feel more tangible to residents than aggregated monthly rates. Over the course of the month, one crime occurred for every 154 residents, a monthly exposure rate that, while not negligible, is lower than many similar-sized areas. The population context is critical: with 7,701 residents, the absolute number of crimes (50) is manageable, but the rise in shoplifting and anti-social behaviour suggests localized pressures that may require attention. For a built-up area, this rate is relatively low, but the disparity in specific crime categories—such as shoplifting being 217% above the UK average—reveals targeted challenges. The contrast with the UK average also underscores Shefford’s unique position: while violent crime remains below the national level, property-related offences are high. This divergence may reflect the area’s mix of residential and commercial spaces, where retail environments create opportunities for theft that are less common in more industrial or rural settings. Residents may find the daily crime count (two per day) a useful benchmark for understanding local risk, though the month-on-month increase indicates a need for vigilance in addressing emerging trends.