Crime in Meppershall & Shillington: statistics, rates and trends
190 crimes were recorded in Meppershall & Shillington in the 12 months to July 2026, 42.4 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 7% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Meppershall & Shillington at a glance
- Crime trends in Meppershall & Shillington
- Types of crime in Meppershall & Shillington
- Meppershall & Shillington compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Meppershall & Shillington
- What happened after crimes were reported in Meppershall & Shillington
- Population and deprivation in Meppershall & Shillington
- Questions about crime in Meppershall & Shillington
- About this data
190 crimes were recorded in Meppershall & Shillington in the 12 months to July 2026, 42.4 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 7% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 81 reports (43% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Meppershall & Shillington has the 3,353rd highest crime rate.
| Measure | Meppershall & Shillington | Central Bedfordshire | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 190 | 19,207 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 42.4 | 60.8 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +7% | -3% | -1% |
| Population | 4,476 | 315,877 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Meppershall & Shillington was highest in the year to July 2019 (298 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2021 (139). Over the whole period it fell 7%, 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 | 190 | 42.4 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 178 | 39.8 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 165 | 36.9 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 147 | 32.8 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 150 | 33.5 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 139 | 31.1 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 151 | 33.7 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 298 | 66.6 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 205 | 45.8 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 16 |
| June 2026 | 9 |
| May 2026 | 18 |
| April 2026 | 12 |
| March 2026 | 17 |
| February 2026 | 26 |
| January 2026 | 12 |
| December 2025 | 15 |
| November 2025 | 16 |
| October 2025 | 15 |
| September 2025 | 18 |
| August 2025 | 16 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Meppershall & Shillington 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. The largest increases were in violence and sexual offences (+19%) and anti-social behaviour (+15%). The largest falls were in criminal damage and arson (-28%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 81 | 18.1 | 0.53 | +19% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 38 | 8.5 | 0.55 | +15% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 18 | 4.0 | 0.59 | -28% |
| Vehicle crime | 11 | 2.5 | 0.50 | -8% |
| Burglary | 10 | 2.2 | 0.63 | +100% |
| Public order | 9 | 2.0 | 0.30 | -40% |
| Other theft | 8 | 1.8 | 0.28 | +60% |
| Other crime | 6 | 1.3 | 0.63 | +20% |
| Drugs | 5 | 1.1 | 0.34 | +25% |
| Theft from the person | 2 | 0.4 | 0.26 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 1 | 0.2 | 0.23 | -50% |
| Robbery | 1 | 0.2 | 0.17 | n/a |
Violence and sexual offences in Meppershall & Shillington
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Meppershall & Shillington recorded 81 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (18.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 19% on the year before. It made up 42.6% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Meppershall & Shillington
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Meppershall & Shillington recorded 38 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 15% on the year before. It made up 20.0% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Meppershall & Shillington
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Meppershall & Shillington recorded 18 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 28% on the year before. It made up 9.5% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Meppershall & Shillington
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Meppershall & Shillington recorded 11 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 5.8% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Meppershall & Shillington
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Meppershall & Shillington recorded 10 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 100% on the year before. It made up 5.3% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Meppershall & Shillington
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Meppershall & Shillington recorded 9 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 40% on the year before. It made up 4.7% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Meppershall & Shillington
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Meppershall & Shillington recorded 8 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 60% on the year before. It made up 4.2% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Meppershall & Shillington
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Meppershall & Shillington recorded 6 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 20% on the year before. It made up 3.2% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Meppershall & Shillington
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Meppershall & Shillington recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 25% on the year before. It made up 2.6% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Meppershall & Shillington
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Meppershall & Shillington recorded 2 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and with no comparable figure for the year before. It made up 1.1% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Meppershall & Shillington
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Meppershall & Shillington recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 50% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Meppershall & Shillington
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Meppershall & Shillington recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and with no comparable figure for the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Meppershall & Shillington, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Meppershall & Shillington.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Meppershall & Shillington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shefford | 714 | 67.6 | +59% |
| Clifton, Henlow & Langford | 699 | 44.4 | +5% |
| Barton-le-Clay & Silsoe | 310 | 35.5 | -16% |
| Arlesey & Fairfield | 533 | 48.3 | +14% |
| Stotfold | 493 | 54.5 | +28% |
| Westoning, Flitton & Greenfield | 177 | 36.3 | -15% |
| Ampthill | 549 | 37.0 | -13% |
| Flitwick | 640 | 45.5 | +7% |
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 Meppershall & Shillington over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Shefford Road | 26 |
| On or near Bryants Close | 18 |
| On or near Marshalls Avenue | 11 |
| On or near Walnut Tree Way | 11 |
| On or near Orchard Close | 10 |
| On or near Sports/Recreation Area | 8 |
| On or near Hilltop View | 7 |
| On or near Parking Area | 7 |
| On or near Glovers Drive | 6 |
| On or near Crackle Hill Road | 5 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Meppershall & Shillington 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 | 70 | 36.8% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 40 | 21.1% |
| Not recorded | 38 | 20.0% |
| Under investigation | 16 | 8.4% |
| Status update unavailable | 8 | 4.2% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 8 | 4.2% |
| Offender given a caution | 6 | 3.2% |
| Court result unavailable | 3 | 1.6% |
| Local resolution | 1 | 0.5% |
Meppershall & Shillington has an estimated population of 4,476. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Meppershall & Shillington sits in decile 8.1, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Meppershall & Shillington |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 18.5% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 57.9% |
| Aged 65 and over | 23.6% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 77.0% |
| Social rented homes | 12.2% |
| Private rented homes | 10.8% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 8.1 |
Is Meppershall & Shillington a safe place to live?
Meppershall & Shillington recorded 42.4 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, lower than 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 Meppershall & Shillington?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 81 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (38).
Is crime in Meppershall & Shillington going up or down?
Recorded crime in Meppershall & Shillington was up 7% on the year before: 190 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 178 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Meppershall & Shillington?
Meppershall & Shillington 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 Meppershall & Shillington. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.