Crime in Harpur: statistics, rates and trends
1,487 crimes were recorded in Harpur in the 12 months to July 2026, 160.0 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 7% on the year before.
Table of Contents
1,487 crimes were recorded in Harpur in the 12 months to July 2026, 160.0 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 7% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 645 reports (43% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Harpur has the 367th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Harpur | Bedford | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 1,487 | 18,267 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 160.0 | 93.7 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +7% | +2% | -1% |
| Population | 9,293 | 194,976 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Harpur was highest in the year to July 2020 (2,135 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2025 (1,388). Over the whole period it fell 6%, 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 | 1,487 | 160.0 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 1,388 | 149.4 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 1,478 | 159.0 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 1,487 | 160.0 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 1,396 | 150.2 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 1,643 | 176.8 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 2,135 | 229.7 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 1,932 | 207.9 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 1,588 | 170.9 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 156 |
| June 2026 | 117 |
| May 2026 | 111 |
| April 2026 | 103 |
| March 2026 | 133 |
| February 2026 | 113 |
| January 2026 | 92 |
| December 2025 | 120 |
| November 2025 | 142 |
| October 2025 | 159 |
| September 2025 | 139 |
| August 2025 | 102 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Harpur 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 violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour, public order.
The largest increases were in drugs (+30%) and violence and sexual offences (+19%). The largest falls were in burglary (-52%) and vehicle crime (-13%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 645 | 69.4 | 2.03 | +19% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 207 | 22.3 | 1.45 | +5% |
| Public order | 116 | 12.5 | 1.88 | +12% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 102 | 11.0 | 1.62 | +13% |
| Other crime | 92 | 9.9 | 4.69 | -12% |
| Other theft | 74 | 8.0 | 1.25 | -4% |
| Vehicle crime | 68 | 7.3 | 1.49 | -13% |
| Drugs | 57 | 6.1 | 1.88 | +30% |
| Burglary | 31 | 3.3 | 0.94 | -52% |
| Shoplifting | 31 | 3.3 | 0.40 | -6% |
| Robbery | 22 | 2.4 | 1.75 | +38% |
| Bicycle theft | 16 | 1.7 | 2.09 | -11% |
| Possession of weapons | 14 | 1.5 | 1.55 | +8% |
| Theft from the person | 12 | 1.3 | 0.76 | +71% |
Violence and sexual offences in Harpur
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Harpur recorded 645 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (69.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 19% on the year before. It made up 43.4% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Harpur
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Harpur recorded 207 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (22.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 5% on the year before. It made up 13.9% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Harpur
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Harpur recorded 116 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (12.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 12% on the year before. It made up 7.8% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Harpur
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Harpur recorded 102 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (11.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 13% on the year before. It made up 6.9% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Harpur
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Harpur recorded 92 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 12% on the year before. It made up 6.2% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Harpur
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Harpur recorded 74 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 4% on the year before. It made up 5.0% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Harpur
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Harpur recorded 68 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 13% on the year before. It made up 4.6% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Harpur
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Harpur recorded 57 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 30% on the year before. It made up 3.8% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Harpur
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Harpur recorded 31 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.3 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 52% on the year before. It made up 2.1% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Harpur
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Harpur recorded 31 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 6% on the year before. It made up 2.1% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Harpur
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Harpur recorded 22 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 38% on the year before. It made up 1.5% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Harpur
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Harpur recorded 16 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 11% on the year before. It made up 1.1% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Harpur
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Harpur recorded 14 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 8% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Harpur
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Harpur recorded 12 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and up 71% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Harpur, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Harpur.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Harpur |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greyfriars | 1,896 | 418.8 | +162% |
| Queens Park | 845 | 82.9 | -48% |
| De Parys | 532 | 73.0 | -54% |
| Castle & Newnham | 1,507 | 174.5 | +9% |
| Cauldwell | 1,793 | 144.4 | -10% |
| Biddenham | 250 | 54.9 | -66% |
| Kempston North | 302 | 77.9 | -51% |
| Brickhill | 498 | 55.9 | -65% |
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 Harpur over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Adelaide Square | 273 |
| On or near Chandos Street | 107 |
| On or near Fairhill | 81 |
| On or near Lansdowne Road | 57 |
| On or near Trevor Street | 51 |
| On or near Warwick Avenue | 45 |
| On or near Queen Street | 42 |
| On or near Chaucer Road | 38 |
| On or near Argyll Street | 36 |
| On or near Shakespeare Road | 32 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Harpur 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 600 | 40.3% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 347 | 23.3% |
| Not recorded | 207 | 13.9% |
| Under investigation | 136 | 9.1% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 54 | 3.6% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 40 | 2.7% |
| Status update unavailable | 34 | 2.3% |
| Local resolution | 24 | 1.6% |
| Court result unavailable | 21 | 1.4% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 17 | 1.1% |
| Offender given a caution | 7 | 0.5% |
Harpur has an estimated population of 9,293. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Harpur sits in decile 3.3, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Harpur |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 16.0% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 67.5% |
| Aged 65 and over | 16.5% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 39.1% |
| Social rented homes | 22.1% |
| Private rented homes | 38.7% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 3.3 |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 20.4% |
Is Harpur a safe place to live?
Harpur recorded 160.0 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, higher 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 Harpur?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 645 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (207).
Is crime in Harpur going up or down?
Recorded crime in Harpur was up 7% on the year before: 1,487 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 1,388 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Harpur?
Harpur 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 Harpur. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.