Crime in Kempston Central & East: statistics, rates and trends
1,238 crimes were recorded in Kempston Central & East in the 12 months to August 2026, 124.2 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 6% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Kempston Central & East at a glance
- Crime trends in Kempston Central & East
- Types of crime in Kempston Central & East
- Kempston Central & East compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Kempston Central & East
- What happened after crimes were reported in Kempston Central & East
- Demographics of Kempston Central & East
- Questions about crime in Kempston Central & East
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (449), shoplifting (140) and anti-social behaviour (128) made up 58% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 767th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the highest quarter.
| Measure | Kempston Central & East | Bedford | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 1,238 | 18,621 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 124.2 | 95.5 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -6% | +5% | -1% |
| Population | 9,970 | 194,976 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Kempston Central & East peaked in the year to August 2025 (1,323 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2024 (1,038). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it rose 10%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 1,238 | 124.2 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 1,323 | 132.7 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 1,038 | 104.1 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 1,042 | 104.5 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 1,182 | 118.6 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 1,304 | 130.8 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 1,204 | 120.8 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 1,209 | 121.3 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 1,129 | 113.2 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 113 |
| July 2026 | 111 |
| June 2026 | 105 |
| May 2026 | 92 |
| April 2026 | 108 |
| March 2026 | 107 |
| February 2026 | 77 |
| January 2026 | 99 |
| December 2025 | 100 |
| November 2025 | 113 |
| October 2025 | 96 |
| September 2025 | 117 |
Compared with England and Wales, Kempston Central & East recorded notably more other crime (2.1 times the national rate), drugs (2.0 times the national rate) and criminal damage and arson (87% above the national rate), and notably less burglary (29% below). On the year before, other theft rose from 45 to 67 and public order rose from 95 to 115, while shoplifting fell from 244 to 140 and vehicle crime fell from 67 to 51.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 449 | 45.0 | 34.2 | -4% |
| Shoplifting | 140 | 14.0 | 8.5 | -43% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 128 | 12.8 | 15.4 | -7% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 126 | 12.6 | 6.7 | +11% |
| Public order | 115 | 11.5 | 6.7 | +21% |
| Other theft | 67 | 6.7 | 6.4 | +49% |
| Drugs | 65 | 6.5 | 3.3 | -7% |
| Vehicle crime | 51 | 5.1 | 5.0 | -24% |
| Other crime | 44 | 4.4 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Burglary | 25 | 2.5 | 3.6 | -17% |
| Possession of weapons | 10 | 1.0 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 6 | 0.6 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Robbery | 6 | 0.6 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 6 | 0.6 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
3 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Kempston Central & East; the highest is Greyfriars, Bedford (433.6 per 1,000) and the lowest Kempston West (57.3).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Kempston Central & East |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kempston South | 364 | 88.4 | -29% |
| Kempston North | 303 | 78.2 | -37% |
| Kempston West | 277 | 57.3 | -54% |
| Great Denham | 263 | 58.4 | -53% |
| Cauldwell | 1,806 | 145.5 | +17% |
| Queens Park | 877 | 86.1 | -31% |
| Greyfriars | 1,963 | 433.6 | +249% |
| Kingsbrook | 1,889 | 170.4 | +37% |
The 10 locations below account for 63% of the crime recorded in Kempston Central & East over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Abbott Crescent” (297).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Abbott Crescent | 297 |
| On or near The Old Yard | 134 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 95 |
| On or near B531 | 50 |
| On or near Bedford Road | 41 |
| On or near Bunyan Road | 39 |
| On or near Littledale Street | 36 |
| On or near Park Road | 28 |
| On or near Spring Road | 28 |
| On or near White Lodge Close | 27 |
Of the 1,110 crimes in Kempston Central & East with a recorded outcome, 21% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 9.4% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 128 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 418 | 37.7% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 236 | 21.3% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 145 | 13.1% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 104 | 9.4% | 5.2% |
| Court result unavailable | 81 | 7.3% | 2.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 47 | 4.2% | 4.7% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 25 | 2.3% | 0.3% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 21 | 1.9% | 1.3% |
| Local resolution | 21 | 1.9% | 3.1% |
| Offender given a caution | 8 | 0.7% | 0.6% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.2% | 0.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.1% | 0.5% |
Kempston Central & East has an estimated population of 9,970 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has more social housing (21%, against 17%) and fewer residents with Level 4 qualifications or above (26%, against 34%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Kempston Central & East average decile 4.3 (1 = most deprived), more deprived than average.
| Measure | Kempston Central & East | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 20.1% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 16.2% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 61.9% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 3.8% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 17.5% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 6.3% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 26.2% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 21.4% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 21.5% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 59.5% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 20.9% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 19.6% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 4.3 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Kempston Central & East a safe place to live?
Kempston Central & East recorded 124.2 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 767th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were other crime and drugs.
What is the most common crime in Kempston Central & East?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 449 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by shoplifting (140).
Is crime in Kempston Central & East going up or down?
Recorded crime in Kempston Central & East was down 6% on the year before: 1,238 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 1,323 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Kempston Central & East?
About 9,970 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 16% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Kempston Central & East?
Kempston Central & East 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.