Crime in Great Barford, Bedford: statistics, rates and trends
203 crimes were recorded in Great Barford, Bedford in the 12 months to July 2026, 51.3 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 13% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Great Barford, Bedford at a glance
- Crime trends in Great Barford, Bedford
- Types of crime in Great Barford, Bedford
- Great Barford, Bedford compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Great Barford, Bedford
- What happened after crimes were reported in Great Barford, Bedford
- Population and deprivation in Great Barford, Bedford
- Questions about crime in Great Barford, Bedford
- About this data
203 crimes were recorded in Great Barford, Bedford in the 12 months to July 2026, 51.3 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 13% on the year before. The most common offence was anti-social behaviour, with 72 reports (35% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Great Barford, Bedford has the 2,971st highest crime rate.
| Measure | Great Barford, Bedford | Bedford | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 203 | 18,267 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 51.3 | 93.7 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +13% | +2% | -1% |
| Population | 3,957 | 194,976 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Great Barford, Bedford was highest in the year to July 2019 (223 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2024 (169). Over the whole period it fell 4%, 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 | 203 | 51.3 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 180 | 45.5 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 169 | 42.7 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 197 | 49.8 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 192 | 48.5 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 197 | 49.8 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 201 | 50.8 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 223 | 56.4 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 211 | 53.3 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 18 |
| June 2026 | 21 |
| May 2026 | 16 |
| April 2026 | 11 |
| March 2026 | 16 |
| February 2026 | 18 |
| January 2026 | 16 |
| December 2025 | 14 |
| November 2025 | 26 |
| October 2025 | 14 |
| September 2025 | 14 |
| August 2025 | 19 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Great Barford, Bedford 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. The largest increases were in anti-social behaviour (+106%).
The largest falls were in burglary (-39%) and violence and sexual offences (-26%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anti-social behaviour | 72 | 18.2 | 1.19 | +106% |
| Violence and sexual offences | 43 | 10.9 | 0.32 | -26% |
| Vehicle crime | 22 | 5.6 | 1.13 | +16% |
| Other theft | 15 | 3.8 | 0.59 | +36% |
| Burglary | 14 | 3.5 | 1.00 | -39% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 9 | 2.3 | 0.34 | +12% |
| Public order | 9 | 2.3 | 0.34 | +12% |
| Other crime | 6 | 1.5 | 0.72 | +50% |
| Shoplifting | 6 | 1.5 | 0.18 | +200% |
| Drugs | 5 | 1.3 | 0.39 | -17% |
| Bicycle theft | 1 | 0.3 | 0.31 | +0% |
| Possession of weapons | 1 | 0.3 | 0.26 | -50% |
Anti-social behaviour in Great Barford, Bedford
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Great Barford, Bedford recorded 72 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (18.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 106% on the year before. It made up 35.5% of all crime in the area.
Violence and sexual offences in Great Barford, Bedford
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Great Barford, Bedford recorded 43 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 26% on the year before. It made up 21.2% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Great Barford, Bedford
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Great Barford, Bedford recorded 22 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.6 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 16% on the year before. It made up 10.8% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Great Barford, Bedford
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Great Barford, Bedford recorded 15 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 36% on the year before. It made up 7.4% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Great Barford, Bedford
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Great Barford, Bedford recorded 14 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.5 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 39% on the year before. It made up 6.9% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Great Barford, Bedford
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Great Barford, Bedford recorded 9 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 12% on the year before. It made up 4.4% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Great Barford, Bedford
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Great Barford, Bedford recorded 9 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 12% on the year before. It made up 4.4% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Great Barford, Bedford
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Great Barford, Bedford recorded 6 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 50% on the year before. It made up 3.0% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Great Barford, Bedford
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Great Barford, Bedford recorded 6 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 200% on the year before. It made up 3.0% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Great Barford, Bedford
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Great Barford, Bedford recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 17% on the year before. It made up 2.5% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Great Barford, Bedford
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Great Barford, Bedford recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Great Barford, Bedford
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Great Barford, Bedford recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 50% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Great Barford, Bedford, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Great Barford, Bedford.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Great Barford, Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Renhold & Ravensden | 138 | 43.4 | -15% |
| Goldington | 922 | 100.1 | +95% |
| Riverfield | 271 | 67.9 | +32% |
| Putnoe | 383 | 47.1 | -8% |
| Castle & Newnham | 1,507 | 174.5 | +240% |
| Shortstown | 545 | 73.5 | +43% |
| De Parys | 532 | 73.0 | +42% |
| Kingsbrook | 1,787 | 161.2 | +214% |
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 Great Barford, Bedford over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Chapel Lane | 25 |
| On or near Church End | 19 |
| On or near Churchgate | 13 |
| On or near Roxton Road | 12 |
| On or near Mowbray Place | 10 |
| On or near Norman Close | 9 |
| On or near Sandy Road | 8 |
| On or near Bedford Road | 6 |
| On or near Silver Street | 6 |
| On or near Barford Road | 5 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Great Barford, Bedford 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Not recorded | 72 | 35.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 65 | 32.0% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 36 | 17.7% |
| Under investigation | 10 | 4.9% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 6 | 3.0% |
| Court result unavailable | 4 | 2.0% |
| Status update unavailable | 3 | 1.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 2 | 1.0% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 2 | 1.0% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 2 | 1.0% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.5% |
Great Barford, Bedford has an estimated population of 3,957. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Great Barford, Bedford sits in decile 7.0, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Great Barford, Bedford |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 17.2% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 57.4% |
| Aged 65 and over | 25.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 80.0% |
| Social rented homes | 9.0% |
| Private rented homes | 11.0% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 7.0 |
Is Great Barford, Bedford a safe place to live?
Great Barford, Bedford recorded 51.3 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, lower 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 Great Barford, Bedford?
Anti-social behaviour was the most common category, with 72 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by violence and sexual offences (43).
Is crime in Great Barford, Bedford going up or down?
Recorded crime in Great Barford, Bedford was up 13% on the year before: 203 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 180 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Great Barford, Bedford?
Great Barford, Bedford 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 Great Barford, Bedford. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.