Crime in Great Denham, Bedford: statistics, rates and trends
263 crimes were recorded in Great Denham, Bedford in the 12 months to August 2026, 58.4 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 4% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Great Denham, Bedford at a glance
- Crime trends in Great Denham, Bedford
- Types of crime in Great Denham, Bedford
- Great Denham, Bedford compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Great Denham, Bedford
- What happened after crimes were reported in Great Denham, Bedford
- Demographics of Great Denham, Bedford
- Questions about crime in Great Denham, Bedford
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (82), anti-social behaviour (76) and vehicle crime (28) made up 71% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 2,677th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lower half.
| Measure | Great Denham, Bedford | Bedford | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 263 | 18,621 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 58.4 | 95.5 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -4% | +5% | -1% |
| Population | 4,506 | 194,976 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Great Denham, Bedford peaked in the year to August 2025 (273 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2020 (24). Between the years to August 2020 and 2026 it rose 996%, while across England and Wales it fell 6%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 263 | 58.4 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 273 | 60.6 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 263 | 58.4 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 203 | 45.1 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 223 | 49.5 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 229 | 50.8 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 24 | 5.3 | 102.7 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 23 |
| July 2026 | 34 |
| June 2026 | 29 |
| May 2026 | 23 |
| April 2026 | 22 |
| March 2026 | 41 |
| February 2026 | 7 |
| January 2026 | 17 |
| December 2025 | 16 |
| November 2025 | 12 |
| October 2025 | 13 |
| September 2025 | 26 |
Compared with England and Wales, Great Denham, Bedford recorded notably more vehicle crime (25% above the national rate), and notably less violence and sexual offences (47% below) and public order (30% below). On the year before, vehicle crime fell from 47 to 28.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 82 | 18.2 | 34.2 | +1% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 76 | 16.9 | 15.4 | +9% |
| Vehicle crime | 28 | 6.2 | 5.0 | -40% |
| Other theft | 22 | 4.9 | 6.4 | -4% |
| Public order | 21 | 4.7 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Criminal damage and arson | 12 | 2.7 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Shoplifting | 5 | 1.1 | 8.5 | n/a |
| Burglary | 4 | 0.9 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Robbery | 4 | 0.9 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 3 | 0.7 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Drugs | 3 | 0.7 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Other crime | 3 | 0.7 | 2.1 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
6 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Great Denham, Bedford; the highest is Greyfriars, Bedford (433.6 per 1,000) and the lowest Biddenham (53.6).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Great Denham, Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kempston North | 303 | 78.2 | +34% |
| Kempston West | 277 | 57.3 | -2% |
| Biddenham | 244 | 53.6 | -8% |
| Kempston Central & East | 1,238 | 124.2 | +113% |
| Queens Park | 877 | 86.1 | +47% |
| Kempston South | 364 | 88.4 | +51% |
| Greyfriars | 1,963 | 433.6 | +643% |
| Cauldwell | 1,806 | 145.5 | +149% |
The 10 locations below account for 53% of the crime recorded in Great Denham, Bedford over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Parking Area” (30).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 30 |
| On or near Greenkeepers Road | 18 |
| On or near Saxon Way | 18 |
| On or near Queen Eleanor Drive | 15 |
| On or near Banbury Heath | 11 |
| On or near King Alfred Way | 11 |
| On or near Hovingham Drive | 10 |
| On or near Pennard Close | 10 |
| On or near Cantley Road | 9 |
| On or near Downham Close | 8 |
Of the 187 crimes in Great Denham, Bedford with a recorded outcome, 36% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 3.7% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 76 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 71 | 38.0% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 67 | 35.8% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 25 | 13.4% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 7 | 3.7% | 5.2% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 6 | 3.2% | 1.3% |
| Status update unavailable | 6 | 3.2% | 4.7% |
| Local resolution | 3 | 1.6% | 3.1% |
| Court result unavailable | 1 | 0.5% | 2.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 1 | 0.5% | 0.6% |
Great Denham, Bedford has an estimated population of 4,506 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has a younger population (3.7%, against 18.9%), fewer retired residents (4.6%, against 21.6%) and fewer households without a car (6.2%, against 23.3%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Great Denham, Bedford average decile 7.0 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.
| Measure | Great Denham, Bedford | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 29.5% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 3.7% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 79.9% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 3.0% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 4.6% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 5.9% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 48.2% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 7.4% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 6.2% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 71.5% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 13.9% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 14.6% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 7.0 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Great Denham, Bedford a safe place to live?
Great Denham, Bedford recorded 58.4 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 2,677th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were vehicle crime.
What is the most common crime in Great Denham, Bedford?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 82 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (76).
Is crime in Great Denham, Bedford going up or down?
Recorded crime in Great Denham, Bedford was down 4% on the year before: 263 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 273 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Great Denham, Bedford?
About 4,506 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 3.7% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Great Denham, Bedford?
Great Denham, Bedford 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.