Crime in Shefford, Central Bedfordshire: statistics, rates and trends
695 crimes were recorded in Shefford, Central Bedfordshire in the 12 months to August 2026, 65.8 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 24% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Shefford, Central Bedfordshire at a glance
- Crime trends in Shefford, Central Bedfordshire
- Types of crime in Shefford, Central Bedfordshire
- Shefford, Central Bedfordshire compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Shefford, Central Bedfordshire
- What happened after crimes were reported in Shefford, Central Bedfordshire
- Demographics of Shefford, Central Bedfordshire
- Questions about crime in Shefford, Central Bedfordshire
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (216), shoplifting (121) and anti-social behaviour (114) made up 65% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 2,399th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lower half.
| Measure | Shefford, Central Bedfordshire | Central Bedfordshire | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 695 | 19,387 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 65.8 | 61.4 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -24% | -1% | -1% |
| Population | 10,556 | 315,877 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Shefford, Central Bedfordshire peaked in the year to August 2025 (910 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2022 (546). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 10%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 695 | 65.8 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 910 | 86.2 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 810 | 76.7 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 868 | 82.2 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 546 | 51.7 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 677 | 64.1 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 683 | 64.7 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 806 | 76.4 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 772 | 73.1 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 50 |
| July 2026 | 62 |
| June 2026 | 46 |
| May 2026 | 53 |
| April 2026 | 111 |
| March 2026 | 61 |
| February 2026 | 55 |
| January 2026 | 57 |
| December 2025 | 34 |
| November 2025 | 61 |
| October 2025 | 60 |
| September 2025 | 45 |
Compared with England and Wales, Shefford, Central Bedfordshire recorded notably more shoplifting (36% above the national rate), and notably less public order (46% below) and other theft (46% below). On the year before, shoplifting fell from 272 to 121 and anti-social behaviour fell from 169 to 114.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 216 | 20.5 | 34.2 | -4% |
| Shoplifting | 121 | 11.5 | 8.5 | -56% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 114 | 10.8 | 15.4 | -33% |
| Vehicle crime | 50 | 4.7 | 5.0 | -19% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 42 | 4.0 | 6.7 | +11% |
| Public order | 38 | 3.6 | 6.7 | -22% |
| Other theft | 37 | 3.5 | 6.4 | -12% |
| Drugs | 25 | 2.4 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Other crime | 24 | 2.3 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Burglary | 11 | 1.0 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 9 | 0.9 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Robbery | 4 | 0.4 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 3 | 0.3 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 1 | 0.1 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
1 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Shefford, Central Bedfordshire; the highest is Biggleswade West (77.6 per 1,000) and the lowest Barton-le-Clay & Silsoe (37.5).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Shefford, Central Bedfordshire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meppershall & Shillington | 185 | 41.3 | -37% |
| Clifton, Henlow & Langford | 710 | 45.1 | -31% |
| Arlesey & Fairfield | 536 | 48.6 | -26% |
| Northill | 248 | 51.2 | -22% |
| Biggleswade West | 1,116 | 77.6 | +18% |
| Stotfold | 496 | 54.9 | -17% |
| Barton-le-Clay & Silsoe | 327 | 37.5 | -43% |
| Biggleswade East | 457 | 50.9 | -23% |
The 10 locations below account for 44% of the crime recorded in Shefford, Central Bedfordshire over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Supermarket” (112).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 112 |
| On or near High Street | 31 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 31 |
| On or near Orchard Close | 26 |
| On or near Duck Lane | 24 |
| On or near Thresher Close | 21 |
| On or near George Street | 17 |
| On or near Davy Drive | 14 |
| On or near Osborn Crescent | 14 |
| On or near Queen Elizabeth Close | 14 |
Of the 581 crimes in Shefford, Central Bedfordshire with a recorded outcome, 40% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 7.7% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 114 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 233 | 40.1% | 35.3% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 187 | 32.2% | 34.5% |
| Under investigation | 55 | 9.5% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 45 | 7.7% | 5.2% |
| Local resolution | 18 | 3.1% | 3.1% |
| Court result unavailable | 15 | 2.6% | 2.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 14 | 2.4% | 4.7% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 8 | 1.4% | 1.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 3 | 0.5% | 0.6% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.3% | 0.5% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.2% | 0.3% |
Shefford, Central Bedfordshire has an estimated population of 10,556 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer households without a car (8.6%, against 23.3%), fewer students (5.3%, against 7.9%) and fewer residents with no qualifications (13%, against 18%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Shefford, Central Bedfordshire average decile 7.4 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.
| Measure | Shefford, Central Bedfordshire | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 20.5% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 15.1% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 68.6% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.2% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 18.0% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 5.3% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 34.3% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 12.6% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 8.6% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 69.1% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 15.5% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 15.3% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 7.4 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Shefford, Central Bedfordshire a safe place to live?
Shefford, Central Bedfordshire recorded 65.8 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 2,399th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were shoplifting.
What is the most common crime in Shefford, Central Bedfordshire?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 216 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by shoplifting (121).
Is crime in Shefford, Central Bedfordshire going up or down?
Recorded crime in Shefford, Central Bedfordshire was down 24% on the year before: 695 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 910 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Shefford, Central Bedfordshire?
About 10,556 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 15% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Shefford, Central Bedfordshire?
Shefford, 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.