Crime in Dunstable West: statistics, rates and trends
352 crimes were recorded in Dunstable West in the 12 months to August 2026, 42.3 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 28% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Dunstable West at a glance
- Crime trends in Dunstable West
- Types of crime in Dunstable West
- Dunstable West compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Dunstable West
- What happened after crimes were reported in Dunstable West
- Demographics of Dunstable West
- Questions about crime in Dunstable West
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (111), anti-social behaviour (72) and other theft (40) made up 63% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 3,356th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lowest quarter.
| Measure | Dunstable West | Central Bedfordshire | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 352 | 19,387 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 42.3 | 61.4 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -28% | -1% | -1% |
| Population | 8,328 | 315,877 | 58,127,638 |
The year to August 2026 had the least recorded crime in Dunstable West of any year here (352 crimes). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 36%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 352 | 42.3 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 487 | 58.5 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 440 | 52.8 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 363 | 43.6 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 370 | 44.4 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 415 | 49.8 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 406 | 48.8 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 457 | 54.9 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 552 | 66.3 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 22 |
| July 2026 | 36 |
| June 2026 | 20 |
| May 2026 | 31 |
| April 2026 | 28 |
| March 2026 | 18 |
| February 2026 | 22 |
| January 2026 | 31 |
| December 2025 | 27 |
| November 2025 | 33 |
| October 2025 | 39 |
| September 2025 | 45 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and violence and sexual offences (61% below) and anti-social behaviour (44% below) were well below it. On the year before, vehicle crime rose from 29 to 38, while other theft fell from 57 to 40 and anti-social behaviour fell from 94 to 72.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 111 | 13.3 | 34.2 | -10% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 72 | 8.6 | 15.4 | -23% |
| Other theft | 40 | 4.8 | 6.4 | -30% |
| Vehicle crime | 38 | 4.6 | 5.0 | +31% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 18 | 2.2 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Public order | 16 | 1.9 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Burglary | 15 | 1.8 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Drugs | 14 | 1.7 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Shoplifting | 12 | 1.4 | 8.5 | n/a |
| Robbery | 7 | 0.8 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Other crime | 5 | 0.6 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 3 | 0.4 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 1 | 0.1 | 0.8 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
Every one of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods has a higher crime rate than Dunstable West.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Dunstable West |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dunstable South | 307 | 52.8 | +25% |
| Dunstable Central | 838 | 107.3 | +154% |
| Dunstable East | 1,093 | 96.3 | +128% |
| Dunstable North | 619 | 63.2 | +49% |
| Houghton Regis West | 1,142 | 92.0 | +118% |
| Houghton Regis East | 1,161 | 93.0 | +120% |
| Caddington | 582 | 55.7 | +32% |
| Eaton Bray | 172 | 44.9 | +6% |
The 10 locations below account for 53% of the crime recorded in Dunstable West over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Petrol Station” (51).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Petrol Station | 51 |
| On or near Lockhart Close | 35 |
| On or near Churchill Road | 23 |
| On or near Supermarket | 16 |
| On or near London Road | 15 |
| On or near Patterdale Close | 13 |
| On or near Garden Road | 12 |
| On or near Whipsnade Road | 9 |
| On or near Index Drive | 7 |
| On or near Southfields Road | 7 |
Of the 280 crimes in Dunstable West with a recorded outcome, 41% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 2.5% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 72 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 115 | 41.1% | 35.3% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 108 | 38.6% | 34.5% |
| Under investigation | 17 | 6.1% | 11.5% |
| Local resolution | 9 | 3.2% | 3.1% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 8 | 2.9% | 1.3% |
| Status update unavailable | 8 | 2.9% | 4.7% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 7 | 2.5% | 5.2% |
| Court result unavailable | 4 | 1.4% | 2.5% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.7% | 0.3% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.4% | 0.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.4% | 0.5% |
Dunstable West has an estimated population of 8,328 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has less social housing (3.8%, against 17.1%), fewer households without a car (11%, against 23%) and fewer students (5.1%, against 7.9%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Dunstable West average decile 9.2 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.
| Measure | Dunstable West | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 16.6% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 25.1% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 59.6% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.3% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 28.4% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 5.1% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 30.2% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 15.0% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 10.9% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 81.5% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 3.8% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 14.6% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 9.2 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Dunstable West a safe place to live?
Dunstable West recorded 42.3 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 3,356th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Dunstable West?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 111 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (72).
Is crime in Dunstable West going up or down?
Recorded crime in Dunstable West was down 28% on the year before: 352 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 487 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Dunstable West?
About 8,328 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 25% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Dunstable West?
Dunstable West 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.