Crime in Meppershall & Shillington: statistics, rates and trends
185 crimes were recorded in Meppershall & Shillington in the 12 months to August 2026, 41.3 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 6% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- 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
- Demographics of Meppershall & Shillington
- Questions about crime in Meppershall & Shillington
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (77), anti-social behaviour (40) and criminal damage and arson (16) made up 72% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 3,390th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lowest quarter.
| Measure | Meppershall & Shillington | Central Bedfordshire | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 185 | 19,387 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 41.3 | 61.4 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +6% | -1% | -1% |
| Population | 4,476 | 315,877 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Meppershall & Shillington peaked in the year to August 2019 (293 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2021 (131). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 11%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 185 | 41.3 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 174 | 38.9 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 175 | 39.1 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 144 | 32.2 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 150 | 33.5 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 131 | 29.3 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 158 | 35.3 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 293 | 65.5 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 209 | 46.7 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 11 |
| 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 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and violence and sexual offences (50% below) and anti-social behaviour (42% below) were well below it. On the year before, anti-social behaviour rose from 32 to 40.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 77 | 17.2 | 34.2 | +10% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 40 | 8.9 | 15.4 | +25% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 16 | 3.6 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Burglary | 10 | 2.2 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Other theft | 9 | 2.0 | 6.4 | n/a |
| Public order | 9 | 2.0 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 9 | 2.0 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Other crime | 6 | 1.3 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Drugs | 5 | 1.1 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 2 | 0.4 | 1.7 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 1 | 0.2 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Robbery | 1 | 0.2 | 1.4 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
5 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Meppershall & Shillington; the highest is Shefford, Central Bedfordshire (65.8 per 1,000) and the lowest Westoning, Flitton & Greenfield (35.5).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Meppershall & Shillington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shefford | 695 | 65.8 | +59% |
| Clifton, Henlow & Langford | 710 | 45.1 | +9% |
| Barton-le-Clay & Silsoe | 327 | 37.5 | -9% |
| Arlesey & Fairfield | 536 | 48.6 | +18% |
| Stotfold | 496 | 54.9 | +33% |
| Westoning, Flitton & Greenfield | 173 | 35.5 | -14% |
| Ampthill | 564 | 38.0 | -8% |
| Flitwick | 661 | 46.9 | +14% |
The 10 locations below account for 56% of the crime recorded in Meppershall & Shillington over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Shefford Road” (24).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Shefford Road | 24 |
| On or near Bryants Close | 18 |
| On or near Marshalls Avenue | 12 |
| On or near Orchard Close | 9 |
| On or near Walnut Tree Way | 9 |
| On or near Hilltop View | 7 |
| On or near Parking Area | 7 |
| On or near Sports/Recreation Area | 7 |
| On or near Crackle Hill Road | 5 |
| On or near Glovers Drive | 5 |
Of the 145 crimes in Meppershall & Shillington with a recorded outcome, 24% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 6.9% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 40 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 66 | 45.5% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 35 | 24.1% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 14 | 9.7% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 10 | 6.9% | 5.2% |
| Status update unavailable | 10 | 6.9% | 4.7% |
| Offender given a caution | 6 | 4.1% | 0.6% |
| Court result unavailable | 3 | 2.1% | 2.5% |
| Local resolution | 1 | 0.7% | 3.1% |
Meppershall & Shillington has an estimated population of 4,476 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer households without a car (6.0%, against 23.3%), less private renting (11%, against 20%) and fewer students (4.7%, against 7.9%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Meppershall & Shillington average decile 8.1 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.
| Measure | Meppershall & Shillington | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 18.5% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 23.6% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 62.0% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.2% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 25.7% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.7% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 36.4% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 12.0% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 6.0% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 77.0% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 12.2% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 10.8% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 8.1 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Meppershall & Shillington a safe place to live?
Meppershall & Shillington recorded 41.3 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 3,390th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Meppershall & Shillington?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 77 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (40).
Is crime in Meppershall & Shillington going up or down?
Recorded crime in Meppershall & Shillington was up 6% on the year before: 185 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 174 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Meppershall & Shillington?
About 4,476 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 24% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Meppershall & Shillington?
Meppershall & Shillington 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.