Crime in Poets: statistics, rates and trends
391 crimes were recorded in Poets in the 12 months to July 2026, 52.6 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and almost unchanged on the year before.
391 crimes were recorded in Poets in the 12 months to July 2026, 52.6 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and almost unchanged on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 177 reports (45% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Poets has the 2,914th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Poets | Luton | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 391 | 22,055 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 52.6 | 92.2 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +1% | -4% | -1% |
| Population | 7,429 | 239,090 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Poets was highest in the year to July 2018 (598 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2023 (340). Over the whole period it fell 35%, 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 | 391 | 52.6 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 388 | 52.2 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 477 | 64.2 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 340 | 45.8 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 537 | 72.3 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 519 | 69.9 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 534 | 71.9 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 549 | 73.9 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 598 | 80.5 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 44 |
| June 2026 | 33 |
| May 2026 | 27 |
| April 2026 | 30 |
| March 2026 | 28 |
| February 2026 | 42 |
| January 2026 | 26 |
| December 2025 | 34 |
| November 2025 | 33 |
| October 2025 | 29 |
| September 2025 | 39 |
| August 2025 | 26 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Poets 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 criminal damage and arson (+27%) and public order (+20%). The largest falls were in anti-social behaviour (-43%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 177 | 23.8 | 0.70 | +15% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 47 | 6.3 | 0.41 | -43% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 38 | 5.1 | 0.75 | +27% |
| Vehicle crime | 33 | 4.4 | 0.90 | +3% |
| Other theft | 25 | 3.4 | 0.53 | +9% |
| Public order | 24 | 3.2 | 0.49 | +20% |
| Drugs | 22 | 3.0 | 0.91 | +47% |
| Other crime | 8 | 1.1 | 0.51 | -27% |
| Burglary | 7 | 0.9 | 0.27 | -36% |
| Robbery | 4 | 0.5 | 0.40 | +33% |
| Theft from the person | 4 | 0.5 | 0.32 | +100% |
| Bicycle theft | 1 | 0.1 | 0.16 | -67% |
| Shoplifting | 1 | 0.1 | 0.02 | +0% |
Violence and sexual offences in Poets
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Poets recorded 177 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (23.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 15% on the year before. It made up 45.3% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Poets
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Poets recorded 47 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 43% on the year before. It made up 12.0% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Poets
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Poets recorded 38 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 27% on the year before. It made up 9.7% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Poets
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Poets recorded 33 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.4 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 3% on the year before. It made up 8.4% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Poets
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Poets recorded 25 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 9% on the year before. It made up 6.4% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Poets
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Poets recorded 24 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 20% on the year before. It made up 6.1% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Poets
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Poets recorded 22 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.0 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 47% on the year before. It made up 5.6% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Poets
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Poets recorded 8 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 27% on the year before. It made up 2.0% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Poets
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Poets recorded 7 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 36% on the year before. It made up 1.8% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Poets
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Poets recorded 4 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 33% on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Poets
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Poets recorded 4 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and up 100% on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Poets
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Poets recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 67% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Poets
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Poets recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Poets, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Poets.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Poets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lewsey | 689 | 66.3 | +26% |
| Leagrave | 753 | 65.9 | +25% |
| Challney | 1,331 | 74.2 | +41% |
| Sundon Park | 618 | 71.4 | +36% |
| Northwell | 1,103 | 68.8 | +31% |
| Saints | 806 | 57.7 | +10% |
| Beech Hill | 1,199 | 78.0 | +48% |
| Dallow | 860 | 84.5 | +61% |
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 Poets over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 78 |
| On or near Calnwood Road | 53 |
| On or near Abingdon Road | 18 |
| On or near Poets Mews | 17 |
| On or near Shelley Road | 17 |
| On or near Macaulay Road | 11 |
| On or near Cloisters Road | 10 |
| On or near Hereford Road | 10 |
| On or near Wordsworth Road | 10 |
| On or near Byfield Close | 9 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Poets 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 | 164 | 41.9% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 102 | 26.1% |
| Not recorded | 47 | 12.0% |
| Under investigation | 27 | 6.9% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 14 | 3.6% |
| Court result unavailable | 10 | 2.6% |
| Status update unavailable | 8 | 2.0% |
| Local resolution | 6 | 1.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 6 | 1.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 5 | 1.3% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.3% |
Poets has an estimated population of 7,429. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Poets sits in decile 5.6, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Poets |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 21.4% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 62.6% |
| Aged 65 and over | 16.0% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 67.0% |
| Social rented homes | 9.2% |
| Private rented homes | 23.7% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.6 |
Is Poets a safe place to live?
Poets recorded 52.6 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 Poets?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 177 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (47).
Is crime in Poets going up or down?
Recorded crime in Poets was almost unchanged on the year before: 391 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 388 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Poets?
Poets 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 Poets. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.