Rushden Crime Rate

Rushden has an overall crime rate of 104.0 per 1,000 people, which is higher than the UK average of 91.6. Despite this higher volume of activity, the town maintains a safety score of 77/100, reflecting its status as a typical urban settlement where crime is more concentrated in specific hubs rather than being uniform throughout. The local crime trend is currently stable, with a minor 2.0% decrease year-over-year. For its population of over 31,000 residents, Rushden presents a busy safety landscape where urban challenges like anti-social behaviour and shoplifting are prominent. The following analysis provides a deeper look into the town's crime statistics and offers practical safety guidance.

In Rushden, the top three crime categories are violence and sexual offences (30.9%), anti-social behaviour (19.9%), and shoplifting (18.7%). Violence and sexual offences are the most frequent, occurring at a rate of 32.1 per 1,000 residents. Property crime, which includes burglary, robbery, theft, and vehicle-related offences, has an overall rate of 40.4 per 1,000 people. Shoplifting is a particularly significant contributor to this, reflecting the town's active commercial sector. Other notable property crimes include criminal damage and arson (6.9%) and 'other theft' (5.1%). For residents, this means that while interpersonal crime and anti-social behaviour are primary concerns, property-related offences, especially theft from businesses and homes, remain a constant threat that requires robust security measures and consistent vigilance in this busy urban settlement.

The crime rate in Rushden has remained stable over the past year, showing a minor decrease of 2.0%. Monthly data from 2025 indicates that criminal activity peaked in June at 11.2 per 1,000 residents and in July at 10.2. The lowest level of crime was recorded in February at 6.5 per 1,000. These figures suggest that while the annual average is consistent, the summer months see a higher volume of reported incidents. This seasonal pattern is common in many urban areas, and residents should remain particularly vigilant during these peak periods. The overall stable trend is a positive indicator for the town's safety management.

How To Keep Safe in Rushden

Violence and sexual offences are the most common crimes in Rushden. To enhance your personal safety, always maintain high situational awareness, especially when in the town centre or using public transport after dark. Stick to well-lit, busy routes and avoid shortcuts through isolated areas. If you are out in the evening, consider using personal safety apps or sharing your journey with a friend. Regarding property, shoplifting is a significant issue; being aware of your surroundings in retail areas can help prevent opportunistic theft. For your home, reinforcing doors and windows and installing motion-activated lighting can act as effective deterrents against both burglary and criminal damage. Engaging with local community watch programs and reporting any suspicious activity to the police helps maintain community safety and ensures that resources are directed where they are most needed.

Crime in Rushden follows distinct temporal trends throughout the day. During the morning and afternoon, theft-related offences are dominant, accounting for 41% and 45% of incidents respectively. This suggests that theft is primarily a daytime issue linked to commercial footfall. As night falls, the nature of crime shifts; the night period (12am-6am) sees vehicle crime reach its peak at 39%, while burglary also remains a concern. This indicates that property-related crimes, particularly those involving vehicles, are most likely to occur when residents are asleep and monitoring is minimal. Evening hours see a higher proportion of 'other' crimes, including anti-social behaviour and public order incidents.

Comparing Rushden to its neighbours reveals a varied regional context. Rushden's rate of 104.0 per 1,000 is higher than Higham Ferrers (76.6) and Irchester (58.5), but lower than Wymington (111.3). Most notably, Podington recorded a crime rate of 0.0 per 1,000 during this period. This is expected given Rushden's larger population, significant commercial activity, and transport links. In the broader context of North Northamptonshire, Rushden remains a major hub for safety monitoring. Residents should use this comparison to understand that while Rushden has higher crime than some neighbours, it is part of a generally secure wider region.

With a property crime rate of 40.4 per 1,000, Rushden residents should be proactive about home security. Traditional security systems, such as standard CCTV or video doorbells, are primarily reactive—they record footage of a crime as it happens. This may provide evidence later, but it does little to prevent the incident itself. scOS offers a proactive alternative. This AI-powered security operating system monitors your property boundaries in real-time, identifying potential threats before they reach your door. Features like vehicle verification and autonomous responses—such as activating security lights or speakers—can deter criminals by destroying the element of surprise. In a busy urban environment like Rushden, where burglars often look for easy targets, having a system that provides active deterrence is a vital safety advantage. By choosing scOS, you move from simply recording incidents to actively preventing them, ensuring your home is a difficult target for opportunistic thieves. This proactive protection is the most effective way to safeguard your property in Rushden.