Crime in Castle & Newnham: statistics, rates and trends
1,507 crimes were recorded in Castle & Newnham in the 12 months to July 2026, 174.5 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 6% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Castle & Newnham at a glance
- Crime trends in Castle & Newnham
- Types of crime in Castle & Newnham
- Castle & Newnham compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Castle & Newnham
- What happened after crimes were reported in Castle & Newnham
- Population and deprivation in Castle & Newnham
- Questions about crime in Castle & Newnham
- About this data
1,507 crimes were recorded in Castle & Newnham in the 12 months to July 2026, 174.5 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 6% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 519 reports (34% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Castle & Newnham has the 285th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Castle & Newnham | Bedford | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 1,507 | 18,267 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 174.5 | 93.7 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +6% | +2% | -1% |
| Population | 8,635 | 194,976 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Castle & Newnham was highest in the year to July 2018 (2,031 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2021 (1,323). Over the whole period it fell 26%, against a fall of 4% across England and Wales. Rates use today's population for every year, so they show the direction of change rather than exact historic rates.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to July 2026 | 1,507 | 174.5 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 1,425 | 165.0 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 1,496 | 173.2 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 1,521 | 176.1 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 1,567 | 181.5 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 1,323 | 153.2 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 1,484 | 171.9 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 1,950 | 225.8 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 2,031 | 235.2 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 204 |
| June 2026 | 142 |
| May 2026 | 125 |
| April 2026 | 139 |
| March 2026 | 98 |
| February 2026 | 96 |
| January 2026 | 86 |
| December 2025 | 105 |
| November 2025 | 105 |
| October 2025 | 134 |
| September 2025 | 128 |
| August 2025 | 145 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Castle & Newnham over the 12 months to July 2026. The index compares the local rate with England and Wales: 1.00 is the national rate, 2.00 is double it. Rates were well above the national level for violence and sexual offences, shoplifting, anti-social behaviour.
The largest increases were in shoplifting (+235%). The largest falls were in burglary (-34%) and anti-social behaviour (-23%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 519 | 60.1 | 1.76 | +4% |
| Shoplifting | 218 | 25.2 | 3.05 | +235% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 166 | 19.2 | 1.25 | -23% |
| Public order | 116 | 13.4 | 2.02 | -12% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 88 | 10.2 | 1.50 | -19% |
| Vehicle crime | 82 | 9.5 | 1.93 | +8% |
| Other theft | 79 | 9.1 | 1.43 | -10% |
| Drugs | 73 | 8.5 | 2.59 | +6% |
| Burglary | 46 | 5.3 | 1.51 | -34% |
| Bicycle theft | 37 | 4.3 | 5.21 | -10% |
| Possession of weapons | 29 | 3.4 | 3.46 | +123% |
| Robbery | 26 | 3.0 | 2.23 | +62% |
| Theft from the person | 16 | 1.9 | 1.10 | -16% |
| Other crime | 12 | 1.4 | 0.66 | -8% |
Violence and sexual offences in Castle & Newnham
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Castle & Newnham recorded 519 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (60.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 4% on the year before. It made up 34.4% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Castle & Newnham
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Castle & Newnham recorded 218 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (25.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 235% on the year before. It made up 14.5% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Castle & Newnham
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Castle & Newnham recorded 166 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (19.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 23% on the year before. It made up 11.0% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Castle & Newnham
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Castle & Newnham recorded 116 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (13.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 12% on the year before. It made up 7.7% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Castle & Newnham
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Castle & Newnham recorded 88 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 19% on the year before. It made up 5.8% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Castle & Newnham
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Castle & Newnham recorded 82 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 8% on the year before. It made up 5.4% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Castle & Newnham
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Castle & Newnham recorded 79 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 10% on the year before. It made up 5.2% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Castle & Newnham
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Castle & Newnham recorded 73 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 6% on the year before. It made up 4.8% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Castle & Newnham
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Castle & Newnham recorded 46 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 34% on the year before. It made up 3.1% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Castle & Newnham
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Castle & Newnham recorded 37 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 10% on the year before. It made up 2.5% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Castle & Newnham
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Castle & Newnham recorded 29 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 123% on the year before. It made up 1.9% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Castle & Newnham
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Castle & Newnham recorded 26 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 62% on the year before. It made up 1.7% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Castle & Newnham
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Castle & Newnham recorded 16 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 16% on the year before. It made up 1.1% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Castle & Newnham
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Castle & Newnham recorded 12 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Castle & Newnham, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Castle & Newnham.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Castle & Newnham |
|---|---|---|---|
| De Parys | 532 | 73.0 | -58% |
| Kingsbrook | 1,787 | 161.2 | -8% |
| Riverfield | 271 | 67.9 | -61% |
| Greyfriars | 1,896 | 418.8 | +140% |
| Harpur | 1,487 | 160.0 | -8% |
| Cauldwell | 1,793 | 144.4 | -17% |
| Putnoe | 383 | 47.1 | -73% |
| Goldington | 922 | 100.1 | -43% |
Police.uk records each crime at an approximate location, usually the centre of a nearby street or a landmark, to protect victims' privacy. These are the locations with the most reports in Castle & Newnham over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Petrol Station | 177 |
| On or near High Street | 147 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 126 |
| On or near Silver Street | 115 |
| On or near Supermarket | 93 |
| On or near Nightclub | 81 |
| On or near Lime Street | 80 |
| On or near Parking Area | 61 |
| On or near Mill Street | 46 |
| On or near St Cuthberts Street | 41 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Castle & Newnham over the 12 months to July 2026. Many cases are still open when the data is published, and anti-social behaviour has no outcome recorded, so these shares change as investigations finish.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 487 | 32.3% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 418 | 27.7% |
| Under investigation | 178 | 11.8% |
| Not recorded | 166 | 11.0% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 106 | 7.0% |
| Court result unavailable | 49 | 3.3% |
| Local resolution | 48 | 3.2% |
| Status update unavailable | 29 | 1.9% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 14 | 0.9% |
| Offender given a caution | 8 | 0.5% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.2% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.1% |
Castle & Newnham has an estimated population of 8,635. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Castle & Newnham sits in decile 6.2, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Castle & Newnham |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 16.9% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 66.9% |
| Aged 65 and over | 16.1% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 57.3% |
| Social rented homes | 10.0% |
| Private rented homes | 32.7% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.2 |
Is Castle & Newnham a safe place to live?
Castle & Newnham recorded 174.5 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4. Crime is concentrated in a small number of places within most areas, often busy centres and transport hubs, so the rate for a single street can differ a lot from the area as a whole.
What is the most common crime in Castle & Newnham?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 519 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by shoplifting (218).
Is crime in Castle & Newnham going up or down?
Recorded crime in Castle & Newnham was up 6% on the year before: 1,507 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 1,425 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Castle & Newnham?
Castle & Newnham is policed by Bedfordshire. Non-emergency crimes can be reported online to the force or by calling 101; in an emergency call 999.
How are these crime rates calculated?
Each rate is the number of crimes recorded by the police in the 12 months to July 2026, divided by the resident population and multiplied by 1,000. Crime data is from data.police.uk and population estimates are from the Office for National Statistics.
Figures are police-recorded crime published on data.police.uk, covering August 2017 to July 2026. Each crime is counted in the small area (LSOA) where it was recorded and added up to Castle & Newnham. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.