Crime in Leighton-Linslade South: statistics, rates and trends
1,453 crimes were recorded in Leighton-Linslade South in the 12 months to August 2026, 88.9 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 4% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Leighton-Linslade South at a glance
- Crime trends in Leighton-Linslade South
- Types of crime in Leighton-Linslade South
- Leighton-Linslade South compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Leighton-Linslade South
- What happened after crimes were reported in Leighton-Linslade South
- Demographics of Leighton-Linslade South
- Questions about crime in Leighton-Linslade South
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (428), shoplifting (241) and anti-social behaviour (237) made up 62% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 1,531st of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the upper half.
| Measure | Leighton-Linslade South | Central Bedfordshire | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 1,453 | 19,387 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 88.9 | 61.4 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -4% | -1% | -1% |
| Population | 16,342 | 315,877 | 58,127,638 |
The year to August 2026 had the least recorded crime in Leighton-Linslade South of any year here (1,453 crimes). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 21%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 1,453 | 88.9 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 1,517 | 92.8 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 1,476 | 90.3 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 1,584 | 96.9 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 1,539 | 94.2 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 1,578 | 96.6 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 1,805 | 110.5 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 1,732 | 106.0 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 1,842 | 112.7 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 125 |
| July 2026 | 164 |
| June 2026 | 125 |
| May 2026 | 119 |
| April 2026 | 117 |
| March 2026 | 128 |
| February 2026 | 112 |
| January 2026 | 110 |
| December 2025 | 122 |
| November 2025 | 122 |
| October 2025 | 117 |
| September 2025 | 92 |
Compared with England and Wales, Leighton-Linslade South recorded notably more shoplifting (74% above the national rate), and notably less other crime (36% below) and violence and sexual offences (23% below). On the year before, shoplifting rose from 147 to 241 and criminal damage and arson rose from 88 to 122, while anti-social behaviour fell from 314 to 237 and other theft fell from 105 to 81.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 428 | 26.2 | 34.2 | -11% |
| Shoplifting | 241 | 14.7 | 8.5 | +64% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 237 | 14.5 | 15.4 | -25% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 122 | 7.5 | 6.7 | +39% |
| Public order | 95 | 5.8 | 6.7 | -19% |
| Other theft | 81 | 5.0 | 6.4 | -23% |
| Vehicle crime | 71 | 4.3 | 5.0 | -21% |
| Burglary | 63 | 3.9 | 3.6 | +11% |
| Drugs | 42 | 2.6 | 3.3 | +27% |
| Robbery | 25 | 1.5 | 1.4 | +4% |
| Other crime | 22 | 1.3 | 2.1 | +10% |
| Bicycle theft | 11 | 0.7 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 10 | 0.6 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 5 | 0.3 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
3 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Leighton-Linslade South; the highest is Dunstable Central (107.3 per 1,000) and the lowest Eaton Bray (44.9).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Leighton-Linslade South |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leighton-Linslade North | 806 | 48.3 | -46% |
| Leighton-Linslade West | 710 | 53.3 | -40% |
| Heath & Reach | 317 | 71.1 | -20% |
| Eaton Bray | 172 | 44.9 | -50% |
| Dunstable North | 619 | 63.2 | -29% |
| Dunstable Central | 838 | 107.3 | +21% |
| Houghton Regis West | 1,142 | 92.0 | +3% |
| Houghton Regis East | 1,161 | 93.0 | +5% |
The 10 locations below account for 46% of the crime recorded in Leighton-Linslade South over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Market Square” (160).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Market Square | 160 |
| On or near West Street | 96 |
| On or near Parking Area | 95 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 82 |
| On or near Church Square | 51 |
| On or near Albany Road | 42 |
| On or near North Street | 37 |
| On or near Sports/Recreation Area | 37 |
| On or near Supermarket | 35 |
| On or near Friday Street | 32 |
Of the 1,216 crimes in Leighton-Linslade South with a recorded outcome, 47% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 4.9% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 237 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 570 | 46.9% | 35.3% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 388 | 31.9% | 34.5% |
| Under investigation | 85 | 7.0% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 60 | 4.9% | 5.2% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 38 | 3.1% | 1.3% |
| Status update unavailable | 24 | 2.0% | 4.7% |
| Local resolution | 18 | 1.5% | 3.1% |
| Court result unavailable | 15 | 1.2% | 2.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 8 | 0.7% | 0.6% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 7 | 0.6% | 0.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.2% | 0.5% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.1% | 0.3% |
Leighton-Linslade South has an estimated population of 16,342 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer students (4.3%, against 7.9%), fewer households without a car (13%, against 23%) and a younger population (12%, against 19%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Leighton-Linslade South average decile 7.5 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.
| Measure | Leighton-Linslade South | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 23.0% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 12.0% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 69.6% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.6% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 15.6% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.3% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 33.3% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 13.5% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 12.8% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 69.5% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 12.9% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 17.4% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 7.5 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Leighton-Linslade South a safe place to live?
Leighton-Linslade South recorded 88.9 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 1,531st of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were shoplifting.
What is the most common crime in Leighton-Linslade South?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 428 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by shoplifting (241).
Is crime in Leighton-Linslade South going up or down?
Recorded crime in Leighton-Linslade South was down 4% on the year before: 1,453 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 1,517 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Leighton-Linslade South?
About 16,342 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 12% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Leighton-Linslade South?
Leighton-Linslade South 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.