Crime in Leighton-Linslade West: statistics, rates and trends
710 crimes were recorded in Leighton-Linslade West in the 12 months to August 2026, 53.3 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 2% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Leighton-Linslade West at a glance
- Crime trends in Leighton-Linslade West
- Types of crime in Leighton-Linslade West
- Leighton-Linslade West compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Leighton-Linslade West
- What happened after crimes were reported in Leighton-Linslade West
- Demographics of Leighton-Linslade West
- Questions about crime in Leighton-Linslade West
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (239), anti-social behaviour (117) and shoplifting (73) made up 60% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 2,887th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lower half.
| Measure | Leighton-Linslade West | Central Bedfordshire | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 710 | 19,387 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 53.3 | 61.4 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -2% | -1% | -1% |
| Population | 13,329 | 315,877 | 58,127,638 |
The year to August 2026 had the least recorded crime in Leighton-Linslade West of any year here (710 crimes). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 3%, in line with England and Wales.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 710 | 53.3 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 723 | 54.2 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 731 | 54.8 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 803 | 60.2 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 762 | 57.2 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 737 | 55.3 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 813 | 61.0 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 813 | 61.0 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 730 | 54.8 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 61 |
| July 2026 | 84 |
| June 2026 | 53 |
| May 2026 | 57 |
| April 2026 | 47 |
| March 2026 | 64 |
| February 2026 | 58 |
| January 2026 | 54 |
| December 2025 | 59 |
| November 2025 | 54 |
| October 2025 | 64 |
| September 2025 | 55 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and other theft (60% below) and burglary (56% below) were well below it. On the year before, criminal damage and arson rose from 38 to 65 and shoplifting rose from 45 to 73, while anti-social behaviour fell from 179 to 117.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 239 | 17.9 | 34.2 | -8% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 117 | 8.8 | 15.4 | -35% |
| Shoplifting | 73 | 5.5 | 8.5 | +62% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 65 | 4.9 | 6.7 | +71% |
| Vehicle crime | 55 | 4.1 | 5.0 | +6% |
| Public order | 41 | 3.1 | 6.7 | -11% |
| Other theft | 34 | 2.6 | 6.4 | -3% |
| Other crime | 27 | 2.0 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Burglary | 21 | 1.6 | 3.6 | -9% |
| Drugs | 17 | 1.3 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Robbery | 12 | 0.9 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 3 | 0.2 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 3 | 0.2 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 3 | 0.2 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
5 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Leighton-Linslade West; the highest is Dunstable Central (107.3 per 1,000) and the lowest Aspley & Woburn (41.9).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Leighton-Linslade West |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leighton-Linslade North | 806 | 48.3 | -9% |
| Leighton-Linslade South | 1,453 | 88.9 | +67% |
| Heath & Reach | 317 | 71.1 | +33% |
| Eaton Bray | 172 | 44.9 | -16% |
| Dunstable North | 619 | 63.2 | +19% |
| Aspley & Woburn | 216 | 41.9 | -21% |
| Houghton Regis West | 1,142 | 92.0 | +73% |
| Dunstable Central | 838 | 107.3 | +102% |
The 10 locations below account for 48% of the crime recorded in Leighton-Linslade West over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Supermarket” (64).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 64 |
| On or near Vimy Road | 58 |
| On or near Mentmore Road | 42 |
| On or near Town Bridge Mill | 40 |
| On or near Water Lane | 39 |
| On or near Bridge Street | 21 |
| On or near Parking Area | 21 |
| On or near Wyngates | 20 |
| On or near Finch Crescent | 19 |
| On or near The Wharf | 19 |
Of the 593 crimes in Leighton-Linslade West with a recorded outcome, 43% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 0.8% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 117 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 256 | 43.2% | 35.3% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 230 | 38.8% | 34.5% |
| Under investigation | 39 | 6.6% | 11.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 25 | 4.2% | 1.3% |
| Local resolution | 14 | 2.4% | 3.1% |
| Status update unavailable | 9 | 1.5% | 4.7% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 5 | 0.8% | 5.2% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 5 | 0.8% | 0.3% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 4 | 0.7% | 0.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 3 | 0.5% | 0.6% |
| Court result unavailable | 2 | 0.3% | 2.5% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.2% | 0.5% |
Leighton-Linslade West has an estimated population of 13,329 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer students (4.3%, against 7.9%), less social housing (9.4%, against 17.1%) and fewer households without a car (14%, against 23%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Leighton-Linslade West average decile 8.5 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.
| Measure | Leighton-Linslade West | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 17.4% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 22.6% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 61.6% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.2% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 26.0% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.3% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 38.9% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 12.9% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 14.2% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 72.9% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 9.4% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 17.6% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 8.5 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Leighton-Linslade West a safe place to live?
Leighton-Linslade West recorded 53.3 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 2,887th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Leighton-Linslade West?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 239 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (117).
Is crime in Leighton-Linslade West going up or down?
Recorded crime in Leighton-Linslade West was down 2% on the year before: 710 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 723 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Leighton-Linslade West?
About 13,329 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 23% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Leighton-Linslade West?
Leighton-Linslade 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.