Crime in High Town: statistics, rates and trends
1,354 crimes were recorded in High Town in the 12 months to July 2026, 108.6 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 8% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in High Town at a glance
- Crime trends in High Town
- Types of crime in High Town
- High Town compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in High Town
- What happened after crimes were reported in High Town
- Population and deprivation in High Town
- Questions about crime in High Town
- About this data
1,354 crimes were recorded in High Town in the 12 months to July 2026, 108.6 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 8% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 452 reports (33% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, High Town has the 1,038th highest crime rate.
| Measure | High Town | Luton | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 1,354 | 22,055 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 108.6 | 92.2 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +8% | -4% | -1% |
| Population | 12,468 | 239,090 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in High Town was highest in the year to July 2019 (1,408 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2020 (1,199). Over the whole period it rose 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 | 1,354 | 108.6 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 1,248 | 100.1 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 1,342 | 107.6 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 1,288 | 103.3 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 1,362 | 109.2 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 1,379 | 110.6 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 1,199 | 96.2 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 1,408 | 112.9 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 1,273 | 102.1 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 144 |
| June 2026 | 116 |
| May 2026 | 143 |
| April 2026 | 127 |
| March 2026 | 92 |
| February 2026 | 110 |
| January 2026 | 119 |
| December 2025 | 112 |
| November 2025 | 101 |
| October 2025 | 89 |
| September 2025 | 83 |
| August 2025 | 118 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in High Town 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 anti-social behaviour, vehicle crime, criminal damage and arson.
The largest increases were in burglary (+49%) and criminal damage and arson (+47%). The largest falls were in public order (-17%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 452 | 36.3 | 1.06 | +17% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 287 | 23.0 | 1.50 | -7% |
| Vehicle crime | 156 | 12.5 | 2.54 | +13% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 110 | 8.8 | 1.30 | +47% |
| Public order | 83 | 6.7 | 1.00 | -17% |
| Other theft | 73 | 5.9 | 0.92 | +9% |
| Drugs | 57 | 4.6 | 1.40 | +10% |
| Burglary | 55 | 4.4 | 1.25 | +49% |
| Robbery | 21 | 1.7 | 1.25 | +31% |
| Other crime | 20 | 1.6 | 0.76 | -5% |
| Possession of weapons | 14 | 1.1 | 1.16 | -7% |
| Bicycle theft | 13 | 1.0 | 1.27 | +8% |
| Theft from the person | 11 | 0.9 | 0.52 | -35% |
| Shoplifting | 2 | 0.2 | 0.02 | -33% |
Violence and sexual offences in High Town
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. High Town recorded 452 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (36.3 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 17% on the year before. It made up 33.4% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in High Town
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. High Town recorded 287 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (23.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 21.2% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in High Town
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. High Town recorded 156 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (12.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 13% on the year before. It made up 11.5% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in High Town
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. High Town recorded 110 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 47% on the year before. It made up 8.1% of all crime in the area.
Public order in High Town
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. High Town recorded 83 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.7 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 17% on the year before. It made up 6.1% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in High Town
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. High Town recorded 73 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 9% on the year before. It made up 5.4% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in High Town
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. High Town recorded 57 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 10% on the year before. It made up 4.2% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in High Town
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. High Town recorded 55 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 49% on the year before. It made up 4.1% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in High Town
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. High Town recorded 21 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 31% on the year before. It made up 1.6% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in High Town
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. High Town recorded 20 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 1.5% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in High Town
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. High Town recorded 14 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in High Town
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. High Town recorded 13 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 8% on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in High Town
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. High Town recorded 11 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 35% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in High Town
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. High Town recorded 2 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 33% on the year before. It made up 0.1% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to High Town, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to High Town.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs High Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round Green | 748 | 66.2 | -39% |
| Central | 3,712 | 449.6 | +314% |
| Biscot | 701 | 61.6 | -43% |
| Vauxhall | 463 | 58.3 | -46% |
| Beech Hill | 1,199 | 78.0 | -28% |
| South | 1,872 | 148.1 | +36% |
| Farley | 2,010 | 116.5 | +7% |
| Dallow | 860 | 84.5 | -22% |
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 High Town over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 158 |
| On or near Duke Street | 93 |
| On or near Plait Court | 67 |
| On or near Arden Place | 65 |
| On or near Dudley Street | 57 |
| On or near Moorland Gardens | 54 |
| On or near The Larches | 42 |
| On or near Edward Street | 40 |
| On or near Treetop Close | 40 |
| On or near Clarendon Road | 38 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in High Town 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 | 414 | 30.6% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 412 | 30.4% |
| Not recorded | 287 | 21.2% |
| Under investigation | 103 | 7.6% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 57 | 4.2% |
| Court result unavailable | 19 | 1.4% |
| Status update unavailable | 18 | 1.3% |
| Local resolution | 16 | 1.2% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 10 | 0.7% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 9 | 0.7% |
| Offender given a caution | 7 | 0.5% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.1% |
High Town has an estimated population of 12,468. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in High Town sits in decile 3.6, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | High Town |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 21.2% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 72.0% |
| Aged 65 and over | 6.9% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 35.2% |
| Social rented homes | 11.7% |
| Private rented homes | 52.9% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 3.6 |
Is High Town a safe place to live?
High Town recorded 108.6 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 High Town?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 452 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (287).
Is crime in High Town going up or down?
Recorded crime in High Town was up 8% on the year before: 1,354 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 1,248 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers High Town?
High Town 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 High Town. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.