Crime in Houghton Regis West: statistics, rates and trends
1,142 crimes were recorded in Houghton Regis West in the 12 months to August 2026, 92.0 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 2% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Houghton Regis West at a glance
- Crime trends in Houghton Regis West
- Types of crime in Houghton Regis West
- Houghton Regis West compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Houghton Regis West
- What happened after crimes were reported in Houghton Regis West
- Demographics of Houghton Regis West
- Questions about crime in Houghton Regis West
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (449), anti-social behaviour (231) and public order (85) made up 67% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 1,437th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the upper half.
| Measure | Houghton Regis West | Central Bedfordshire | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 1,142 | 19,387 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 92.0 | 61.4 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -2% | -1% | -1% |
| Population | 12,411 | 315,877 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Houghton Regis West peaked in the year to August 2018 (1,344 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2021 (917). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 15%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 1,142 | 92.0 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 1,168 | 94.1 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 1,188 | 95.7 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 994 | 80.1 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 1,085 | 87.4 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 917 | 73.9 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 932 | 75.1 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 1,190 | 95.9 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 1,344 | 108.3 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 108 |
| July 2026 | 110 |
| June 2026 | 92 |
| May 2026 | 114 |
| April 2026 | 88 |
| March 2026 | 73 |
| February 2026 | 80 |
| January 2026 | 82 |
| December 2025 | 79 |
| November 2025 | 98 |
| October 2025 | 127 |
| September 2025 | 91 |
Compared with England and Wales, Houghton Regis West recorded notably more other crime (45% above the national rate) and vehicle crime (26% above the national rate), and notably less shoplifting (81% below) and burglary (34% below). On the year before, other crime rose from 24 to 38 and vehicle crime rose from 56 to 78, while shoplifting fell from 144 to 20 and burglary fell from 44 to 29.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 449 | 36.2 | 34.2 | +11% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 231 | 18.6 | 15.4 | +6% |
| Public order | 85 | 6.8 | 6.7 | +23% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 80 | 6.4 | 6.7 | +1% |
| Vehicle crime | 78 | 6.3 | 5.0 | +39% |
| Other theft | 71 | 5.7 | 6.4 | -10% |
| Other crime | 38 | 3.1 | 2.1 | +58% |
| Drugs | 36 | 2.9 | 3.3 | +16% |
| Burglary | 29 | 2.3 | 3.6 | -34% |
| Shoplifting | 20 | 1.6 | 8.5 | -86% |
| Robbery | 13 | 1.0 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 7 | 0.6 | 1.7 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 4 | 0.3 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 1 | 0.1 | 0.8 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
3 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Houghton Regis West; the highest is Dunstable Central (107.3 per 1,000) and the lowest Dunstable West (42.3).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Houghton Regis West |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houghton Regis East | 1,161 | 93.0 | +1% |
| Dunstable North | 619 | 63.2 | -31% |
| Dunstable East | 1,093 | 96.3 | +5% |
| Dunstable Central | 838 | 107.3 | +17% |
| Dunstable South | 307 | 52.8 | -43% |
| Dunstable West | 352 | 42.3 | -54% |
| Toddington | 790 | 80.3 | -13% |
| Eaton Bray | 172 | 44.9 | -51% |
The 10 locations below account for 44% of the crime recorded in Houghton Regis West over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Houghton Road” (92).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Houghton Road | 92 |
| On or near Morpeth Crescent | 84 |
| On or near Harebell Gardens | 52 |
| On or near Bedford Road | 47 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 47 |
| On or near Thorn Road | 42 |
| On or near Parking Area | 41 |
| On or near Coopers Way | 35 |
| On or near Clarkes Way | 30 |
| On or near Plaiters Way | 29 |
Of the 911 crimes in Houghton Regis West with a recorded outcome, 30% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 2.3% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 231 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 439 | 48.2% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 274 | 30.1% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 77 | 8.5% | 11.5% |
| Local resolution | 22 | 2.4% | 3.1% |
| Status update unavailable | 22 | 2.4% | 4.7% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 21 | 2.3% | 5.2% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 20 | 2.2% | 1.3% |
| Court result unavailable | 18 | 2.0% | 2.5% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 9 | 1.0% | 0.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 5 | 0.5% | 0.6% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.3% | 0.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.1% | 0.5% |
Houghton Regis West has an estimated population of 12,411 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer households without a car (14%, against 23%), more children (25%, against 18%) and a younger population (12%, against 19%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Houghton Regis West average decile 4.8 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Houghton Regis West | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 25.4% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 11.8% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 65.7% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 3.2% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 15.8% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 5.6% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 27.2% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 18.9% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 13.9% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 66.0% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 20.0% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 13.9% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 4.8 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Houghton Regis West a safe place to live?
Houghton Regis West recorded 92.0 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 1,437th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were other crime and vehicle crime.
What is the most common crime in Houghton Regis West?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 449 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (231).
Is crime in Houghton Regis West going up or down?
Recorded crime in Houghton Regis West was down 2% on the year before: 1,142 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 1,168 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Houghton Regis West?
About 12,411 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 12% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Houghton Regis West?
Houghton Regis 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.