Crime by Postcode

BedfordTown

Crime in Bedford

Recorded crime in Bedford is 1.8 times the Bedford council average and 1.7 times the England and Wales average. Over 5 years it has risen 9%. Most of the harm comes from violence and sexual offences. Police data to August 2026.

Within 1.5 km of the centre of Bedford: about 40,205 residents in 36 neighbourhoods.

Safety
2/10High crime
Living
8.0/10Good
5-year change
+9%more crimes
vs the council
1.8×the Bedford council average
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Neighbourhoods by Safety

Bedford 012A: Safety 1 out of 10, high crimeBedford 012H: Safety 1 out of 10, high crimeBedford 012F: Safety 1 out of 10, high crimeBedford 010F: Safety 1 out of 10, high crimeBedford 012G: Safety 1 out of 10, high crimeBedford 009C: Safety 1 out of 10, high crimeBedford 015G: Safety 1 out of 10, high crimeBedford 014E: Safety 1 out of 10, high crimeBedford 010E: Safety 1 out of 10, high crimeBedford 010A: Safety 2 out of 10, high crimeBedford 015H: Safety 1 out of 10, high crimeBedford 010D: Safety 2 out of 10, high crimeBedford 014B: Safety 3 out of 10, above average crimeBedford 012B: Safety 3 out of 10, above average crimeBedford 009D: Safety 6 out of 10, average crimeBedford 013B: Safety 2 out of 10, high crimeBedford 013D: Safety 2 out of 10, high crimeBedford 009A: Safety 4 out of 10, above average crimeBedford 015C: Safety 2 out of 10, high crimeBedford 010C: Safety 3 out of 10, above average crimeBedford 010B: Safety 4 out of 10, above average crimeBedford 013E: Safety 6 out of 10, average crimeBedford 013A: Safety 4 out of 10, above average crimeBedford 016D: Safety 2 out of 10, high crimeBedford 012C: Safety 5 out of 10, average crimeBedford 009B: Safety 8 out of 10, low crimeBedford 012E: Safety 8 out of 10, low crimeBedford 014F: Safety 3 out of 10, above average crimeBedford 017B: Safety 5 out of 10, average crimeBedford 014A: Safety 4 out of 10, above average crimeBedford 015A: Safety 2 out of 10, high crimeBedford 015D: Safety 4 out of 10, above average crimeBedford 005E: Safety 5 out of 10, average crimeBedford 005D: Safety 8 out of 10, low crimeBedford 013C: Safety 6 out of 10, average crimeBedford 011A: Safety 4 out of 10, above average crime
1 = least safe, 10 = safest. Grey: no score. Select a neighbourhood to open it on the map.

Within 1.5 km of the centre of Bedford.

Crime over 5 years

Up 9% in 5 years Recorded crimes within 1.5 km of Bedford, anti-social behaviour left out.

Sep 2021 – Aug 2022: 5,450 crimesSep 2021 – Aug 20225,450Sep 2022 – Aug 2023: 5,308 crimesSep 2022 – Aug 20235,308Sep 2023 – Aug 2024: 5,649 crimesSep 2023 – Aug 20245,649Sep 2024 – Aug 2025: 5,302 crimesSep 2024 – Aug 20255,302Sep 2025 – Aug 2026: 5,955 crimesSep 2025 – Aug 20265,955

What is recorded

Crime severity: 1.8× the Bedford council average (1.7× the England and Wales average). 134 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents a year.

  • Violence and sexual offences: 58% of the harm here
  • Burglary: 15% of the harm here
  • Robbery: 9% of the harm here

Anti-social behaviour: 37 incidents per 1,000 residents a year, not scored. Not a crime, so it is not part of the Safety score.

Crime by type

Recorded crimes per 1,000 residents per year, most serious first, not counting anti-social behaviour.

TypePer 1,000 a year
Robbery2.4
Burglary7.9
Violence and sexual offences49.8
Drugs5.1
Possession of weapons1.5
Other crime3.3
Other theft10.4
Theft from the person2.1
Vehicle crime9.8
Criminal damage and arson11.8
Public order12.5
Bicycle theft5.5
Shoplifting11.7

Postcode districts in Bedford

Nearby towns

Council: Bedford

Questions about crime in Bedford

Is Bedford a safe place to live?
Bedford scores 2 out of 10 for safety (high crime), compared with every neighbourhood in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Crime severity is 1.8 times the Bedford council average.
Is crime going up or down in Bedford?
Up 9% over 5 years, from 5,450 recorded crimes a year to 5,955.
What is the most common crime in Bedford?
The most common recorded crime is violence and sexual offences, about 50 per 1,000 residents a year.
How does crime in Bedford compare with Bedford council?
Crime severity in Bedford is 1.8 times the Bedford council average.