Crime in Challney: statistics, rates and trends
1,290 crimes were recorded in Challney in the 12 months to August 2026, 72.0 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 3% on the year before.
Table of Contents
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (604), anti-social behaviour (156) and criminal damage and arson (102) made up 67% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 2,147th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lower half.
| Measure | Challney | Luton | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 1,290 | 22,028 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 72.0 | 92.1 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -3% | -4% | -1% |
| Population | 17,928 | 239,090 | 58,127,638 |
The year to August 2026 had the least recorded crime in Challney of any year here (1,290 crimes). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 21%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 1,290 | 72.0 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 1,330 | 74.2 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 1,339 | 74.7 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 1,370 | 76.4 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 1,381 | 77.0 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 1,430 | 79.8 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 1,406 | 78.4 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 1,623 | 90.5 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 1,632 | 91.0 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 109 |
| July 2026 | 137 |
| June 2026 | 109 |
| May 2026 | 126 |
| April 2026 | 102 |
| March 2026 | 112 |
| February 2026 | 90 |
| January 2026 | 99 |
| December 2025 | 97 |
| November 2025 | 111 |
| October 2025 | 101 |
| September 2025 | 97 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and burglary (59% below) and anti-social behaviour (43% below) were well below it. On the year before, drugs rose from 32 to 49 and criminal damage and arson rose from 85 to 102, while other theft fell from 155 to 80 and burglary fell from 32 to 26.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 604 | 33.7 | 34.2 | +5% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 156 | 8.7 | 15.4 | -2% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 102 | 5.7 | 6.7 | +20% |
| Vehicle crime | 101 | 5.6 | 5.0 | -1% |
| Public order | 90 | 5.0 | 6.7 | -4% |
| Other theft | 80 | 4.5 | 6.4 | -48% |
| Drugs | 49 | 2.7 | 3.3 | +53% |
| Other crime | 38 | 2.1 | 2.1 | -14% |
| Burglary | 26 | 1.5 | 3.6 | -19% |
| Possession of weapons | 16 | 0.9 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Shoplifting | 12 | 0.7 | 8.5 | n/a |
| Robbery | 10 | 0.6 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 5 | 0.3 | 1.7 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 1 | 0.1 | 0.8 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
2 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Challney; the highest is Dallow (85.7 per 1,000) and the lowest Poets (53.7).
The 10 locations below account for 45% of the crime recorded in Challney over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Hospital” (212).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Hospital | 212 |
| On or near Parking Area | 110 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 44 |
| On or near Dunstable Road | 42 |
| On or near Larkspur Gardens | 34 |
| On or near Beechwood Road | 30 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 29 |
| On or near Banbury Close | 28 |
| On or near Bongrace Walk | 28 |
| On or near Angel Close | 27 |
Of the 1,134 crimes in Challney with a recorded outcome, 28% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 4.1% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 156 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 519 | 45.8% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 321 | 28.3% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 124 | 10.9% | 11.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 50 | 4.4% | 4.7% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 47 | 4.1% | 5.2% |
| Court result unavailable | 30 | 2.6% | 2.5% |
| Local resolution | 19 | 1.7% | 3.1% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 13 | 1.1% | 1.3% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 5 | 0.4% | 0.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 5 | 0.4% | 0.6% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.1% | 0.5% |
Challney has an estimated population of 17,928 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has more students (12.5%, against 7.9%), a younger population (9.5%, against 18.9%) and fewer retired residents (11%, against 22%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Challney average decile 3.0 (1 = most deprived), more deprived than average.
| Measure | Challney | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 25.6% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 9.5% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 54.5% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 5.1% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 11.5% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 12.5% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 29.9% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 24.6% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 17.5% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 60.5% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 12.3% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 27.2% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 3.0 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Challney a safe place to live?
Challney recorded 72.0 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 2,147th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Challney?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 604 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (156).
Is crime in Challney going up or down?
Recorded crime in Challney was down 3% on the year before: 1,290 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 1,330 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Challney?
About 17,928 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 9.5% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Challney?
Challney is policed by Bedfordshire.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.