Crime in Dunstable Central: statistics, rates and trends
840 crimes were recorded in Dunstable Central in the 12 months to July 2026, 107.6 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 4% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Dunstable Central at a glance
- Crime trends in Dunstable Central
- Types of crime in Dunstable Central
- Dunstable Central compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Dunstable Central
- What happened after crimes were reported in Dunstable Central
- Population and deprivation in Dunstable Central
- Questions about crime in Dunstable Central
- About this data
840 crimes were recorded in Dunstable Central in the 12 months to July 2026, 107.6 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 4% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 306 reports (36% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Dunstable Central has the 1,057th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Dunstable Central | Central Bedfordshire | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 840 | 19,207 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 107.6 | 60.8 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -4% | -3% | -1% |
| Population | 7,807 | 315,877 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Dunstable Central was highest in the year to July 2018 (1,574 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (840). Over the whole period it fell 47%, 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 | 840 | 107.6 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 874 | 112.0 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 859 | 110.0 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 953 | 122.1 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 865 | 110.8 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 859 | 110.0 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 1,196 | 153.2 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 1,551 | 198.7 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 1,574 | 201.6 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 79 |
| June 2026 | 62 |
| May 2026 | 80 |
| April 2026 | 67 |
| March 2026 | 70 |
| February 2026 | 50 |
| January 2026 | 54 |
| December 2025 | 76 |
| November 2025 | 77 |
| October 2025 | 88 |
| September 2025 | 67 |
| August 2025 | 70 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Dunstable Central 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 vehicle crime, drugs, burglary.
The largest increases were in drugs (+62%) and burglary (+53%). The largest falls were in criminal damage and arson (-32%) and shoplifting (-30%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 306 | 39.2 | 1.14 | +9% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 139 | 17.8 | 1.16 | -20% |
| Public order | 62 | 7.9 | 1.20 | +9% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 60 | 7.7 | 1.13 | -32% |
| Vehicle crime | 50 | 6.4 | 1.30 | -11% |
| Drugs | 47 | 6.0 | 1.84 | +62% |
| Burglary | 46 | 5.9 | 1.67 | +53% |
| Other theft | 42 | 5.4 | 0.84 | -26% |
| Shoplifting | 31 | 4.0 | 0.48 | -30% |
| Other crime | 19 | 2.4 | 1.15 | -5% |
| Robbery | 17 | 2.2 | 1.61 | +6% |
| Theft from the person | 8 | 1.0 | 0.61 | +14% |
| Bicycle theft | 7 | 0.9 | 1.09 | +17% |
| Possession of weapons | 6 | 0.8 | 0.79 | -33% |
Violence and sexual offences in Dunstable Central
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Dunstable Central recorded 306 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (39.2 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 9% on the year before. It made up 36.4% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Dunstable Central
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Dunstable Central recorded 139 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (17.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 20% on the year before. It made up 16.5% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Dunstable Central
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Dunstable Central recorded 62 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 9% on the year before. It made up 7.4% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Dunstable Central
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Dunstable Central recorded 60 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.7 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 32% on the year before. It made up 7.1% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Dunstable Central
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Dunstable Central recorded 50 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 11% on the year before. It made up 6.0% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Dunstable Central
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Dunstable Central recorded 47 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 62% on the year before. It made up 5.6% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Dunstable Central
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Dunstable Central recorded 46 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 53% on the year before. It made up 5.5% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Dunstable Central
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Dunstable Central recorded 42 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 26% on the year before. It made up 5.0% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Dunstable Central
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Dunstable Central recorded 31 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 30% on the year before. It made up 3.7% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Dunstable Central
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Dunstable Central recorded 19 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 2.3% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Dunstable Central
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Dunstable Central recorded 17 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 6% on the year before. It made up 2.0% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Dunstable Central
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Dunstable Central recorded 8 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and up 14% on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Dunstable Central
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Dunstable Central recorded 7 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 17% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Dunstable Central
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Dunstable Central recorded 6 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 33% on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Dunstable Central, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Dunstable Central.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Dunstable Central |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dunstable North | 595 | 60.7 | -44% |
| Dunstable West | 364 | 43.7 | -59% |
| Dunstable South | 302 | 51.9 | -52% |
| Dunstable East | 1,065 | 93.8 | -13% |
| Houghton Regis West | 1,161 | 93.5 | -13% |
| Houghton Regis East | 1,125 | 90.1 | -16% |
| Eaton Bray | 165 | 43.1 | -60% |
| Caddington | 573 | 54.8 | -49% |
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 Dunstable Central over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Shopping Area | 157 |
| On or near The Square | 54 |
| On or near Parking Area | 48 |
| On or near Radburn Court | 34 |
| On or near Manchester Place | 27 |
| On or near Spoondell | 26 |
| On or near Vernon Place | 25 |
| On or near Frances Drive | 21 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 21 |
| On or near Quarry Walk | 20 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Dunstable Central 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 | 282 | 33.6% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 271 | 32.3% |
| Not recorded | 139 | 16.5% |
| Under investigation | 47 | 5.6% |
| Local resolution | 25 | 3.0% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 25 | 3.0% |
| Court result unavailable | 15 | 1.8% |
| Status update unavailable | 11 | 1.3% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 11 | 1.3% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 9 | 1.1% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.4% |
| Suspect charged as part of another case | 1 | 0.1% |
Dunstable Central has an estimated population of 7,807. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Dunstable Central sits in decile 5.4, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Dunstable Central |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 18.3% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 64.6% |
| Aged 65 and over | 17.2% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 61.1% |
| Social rented homes | 15.4% |
| Private rented homes | 23.5% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.4 |
Is Dunstable Central a safe place to live?
Dunstable Central recorded 107.6 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, close to 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 Dunstable Central?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 306 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (139).
Is crime in Dunstable Central going up or down?
Recorded crime in Dunstable Central was down 4% on the year before: 840 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 874 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Dunstable Central?
Dunstable Central 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 Dunstable Central. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.