Crime in Sandy, Central Bedfordshire: statistics, rates and trends
1,196 crimes were recorded in Sandy, Central Bedfordshire in the 12 months to August 2026, 83.7 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 3% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Sandy, Central Bedfordshire at a glance
- Crime trends in Sandy, Central Bedfordshire
- Types of crime in Sandy, Central Bedfordshire
- Sandy, Central Bedfordshire compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Sandy, Central Bedfordshire
- What happened after crimes were reported in Sandy, Central Bedfordshire
- Demographics of Sandy, Central Bedfordshire
- Questions about crime in Sandy, Central Bedfordshire
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (525), anti-social behaviour (218) and criminal damage and arson (96) made up 70% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 1,715th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the upper half.
| Measure | Sandy, Central Bedfordshire | Central Bedfordshire | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 1,196 | 19,387 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 83.7 | 61.4 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +3% | -1% | -1% |
| Population | 14,287 | 315,877 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Sandy, Central Bedfordshire peaked in the year to August 2021 (1,434 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2018 (896). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it rose 33%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 1,196 | 83.7 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 1,165 | 81.5 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 1,222 | 85.5 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 1,207 | 84.5 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 1,151 | 80.6 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 1,434 | 100.4 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 1,170 | 81.9 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 952 | 66.6 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 896 | 62.7 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 119 |
| July 2026 | 111 |
| June 2026 | 102 |
| May 2026 | 84 |
| April 2026 | 87 |
| March 2026 | 76 |
| February 2026 | 96 |
| January 2026 | 88 |
| December 2025 | 107 |
| November 2025 | 94 |
| October 2025 | 111 |
| September 2025 | 121 |
Compared with England and Wales, Sandy, Central Bedfordshire recorded notably more drugs (58% above the national rate), and notably less shoplifting (79% below) and other theft (37% below). On the year before, other crime rose from 22 to 36 and drugs rose from 46 to 74, while vehicle crime fell from 88 to 51.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 525 | 36.7 | 34.2 | +6% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 218 | 15.3 | 15.4 | 0% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 96 | 6.7 | 6.7 | +2% |
| Drugs | 74 | 5.2 | 3.3 | +61% |
| Public order | 68 | 4.8 | 6.7 | -12% |
| Other theft | 58 | 4.1 | 6.4 | +45% |
| Vehicle crime | 51 | 3.6 | 5.0 | -42% |
| Other crime | 36 | 2.5 | 2.1 | +64% |
| Shoplifting | 25 | 1.7 | 8.5 | -4% |
| Burglary | 17 | 1.2 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 12 | 0.8 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 6 | 0.4 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 6 | 0.4 | 1.7 | n/a |
| Robbery | 4 | 0.3 | 1.4 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
Sandy, Central Bedfordshire has a higher crime rate than all 8 of its nearest neighbourhoods.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Sandy, Central Bedfordshire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northill | 248 | 51.2 | -39% |
| Biggleswade West | 1,116 | 77.6 | -7% |
| Potton | 400 | 46.8 | -44% |
| Biggleswade East | 457 | 50.9 | -39% |
| Shefford | 695 | 65.8 | -21% |
| Clifton, Henlow & Langford | 710 | 45.1 | -46% |
| Houghton Conquest & Haynes | 232 | 41.9 | -50% |
| Stotfold | 496 | 54.9 | -34% |
The 10 locations below account for 41% of the crime recorded in Sandy, Central Bedfordshire over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Armistice Croft” (196).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Armistice Croft | 196 |
| On or near Mcmurdo Court | 43 |
| On or near Supermarket | 39 |
| On or near Maple Road | 37 |
| On or near Wesley Road | 30 |
| On or near Market Square | 29 |
| On or near Station Road | 29 |
| On or near Winchester Road | 29 |
| On or near Rivermead Gardens | 28 |
| On or near Potton Road | 26 |
Of the 978 crimes in Sandy, Central Bedfordshire with a recorded outcome, 29% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 3.6% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 218 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 458 | 46.8% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 286 | 29.2% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 100 | 10.2% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 35 | 3.6% | 5.2% |
| Status update unavailable | 34 | 3.5% | 4.7% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 24 | 2.5% | 1.3% |
| Local resolution | 18 | 1.8% | 3.1% |
| Court result unavailable | 8 | 0.8% | 2.5% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 6 | 0.6% | 0.5% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.3% | 0.3% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.3% | 0.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 3 | 0.3% | 0.6% |
Sandy, Central Bedfordshire has an estimated population of 14,287 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer households without a car (12%, against 23%), less private renting (13%, against 20%) and fewer students (5.1%, against 7.9%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Sandy, Central Bedfordshire average decile 6.0 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Sandy, Central Bedfordshire | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 18.3% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 19.8% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 62.1% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.7% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 21.7% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 5.1% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 27.1% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 17.3% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 11.9% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 68.6% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 18.5% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 12.9% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.0 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Sandy, Central Bedfordshire a safe place to live?
Sandy, Central Bedfordshire recorded 83.7 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 1,715th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were drugs.
What is the most common crime in Sandy, Central Bedfordshire?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 525 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (218).
Is crime in Sandy, Central Bedfordshire going up or down?
Recorded crime in Sandy, Central Bedfordshire was up 3% on the year before: 1,196 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 1,165 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Sandy, Central Bedfordshire?
About 14,287 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 20% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Sandy, Central Bedfordshire?
Sandy, Central Bedfordshire 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.