Crime in Wixams & Wilstead: statistics, rates and trends
1,055 crimes were recorded in Wixams & Wilstead in the 12 months to August 2026, 68.3 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 7% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Wixams & Wilstead at a glance
- Crime trends in Wixams & Wilstead
- Types of crime in Wixams & Wilstead
- Wixams & Wilstead compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Wixams & Wilstead
- What happened after crimes were reported in Wixams & Wilstead
- Demographics of Wixams & Wilstead
- Questions about crime in Wixams & Wilstead
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (369), anti-social behaviour (248) and shoplifting (128) made up 71% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 2,301st of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lower half.
| Measure | Wixams & Wilstead | Bedford | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 1,055 | 18,621 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 68.3 | 95.5 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +7% | +5% | -1% |
| Population | 15,442 | 194,976 | 58,127,638 |
The year to August 2026 had the most recorded crime in Wixams & Wilstead of any year here (1,055 crimes). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it rose 89%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 1,055 | 68.3 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 982 | 63.6 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 819 | 53.0 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 714 | 46.2 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 683 | 44.2 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 683 | 44.2 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 739 | 47.9 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 653 | 42.3 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 557 | 36.1 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 107 |
| July 2026 | 105 |
| June 2026 | 111 |
| May 2026 | 104 |
| April 2026 | 103 |
| March 2026 | 86 |
| February 2026 | 77 |
| January 2026 | 71 |
| December 2025 | 67 |
| November 2025 | 90 |
| October 2025 | 67 |
| September 2025 | 67 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and other theft (52% below) and burglary (47% below) were well below it. On the year before, anti-social behaviour rose from 161 to 248 and criminal damage and arson rose from 52 to 60, while vehicle crime fell from 66 to 43 and shoplifting fell from 159 to 128.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 369 | 23.9 | 34.2 | +10% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 248 | 16.1 | 15.4 | +54% |
| Shoplifting | 128 | 8.3 | 8.5 | -19% |
| Public order | 63 | 4.1 | 6.7 | 0% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 60 | 3.9 | 6.7 | +15% |
| Other theft | 48 | 3.1 | 6.4 | +2% |
| Vehicle crime | 43 | 2.8 | 5.0 | -35% |
| Burglary | 29 | 1.9 | 3.6 | -6% |
| Other crime | 21 | 1.4 | 2.1 | -16% |
| Drugs | 19 | 1.2 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 11 | 0.7 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 10 | 0.6 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Robbery | 4 | 0.3 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 2 | 0.1 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
6 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Wixams & Wilstead; the highest is Kingsbrook (170.4 per 1,000) and the lowest Wootton & Kempston Rural (34.3).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Wixams & Wilstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kempston South | 364 | 88.4 | +29% |
| Kempston Central & East | 1,238 | 124.2 | +82% |
| Shortstown | 525 | 70.8 | +4% |
| Kempston West | 277 | 57.3 | -16% |
| Cauldwell | 1,806 | 145.5 | +113% |
| Wootton & Kempston Rural | 342 | 34.3 | -50% |
| Kingsbrook | 1,889 | 170.4 | +149% |
| Kempston North | 303 | 78.2 | +14% |
The 10 locations below account for 38% of the crime recorded in Wixams & Wilstead over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Petrol Station” (106).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Petrol Station | 106 |
| On or near Hummingbird Way | 81 |
| On or near Rainbow Close | 49 |
| On or near Broadmead Road | 42 |
| On or near Riley Way | 24 |
| On or near Nightingale Court | 22 |
| On or near Hexham Close | 21 |
| On or near Kestrel Gardens | 21 |
| On or near Bedford Road | 19 |
| On or near Goldfinch Gardens | 18 |
Of the 807 crimes in Wixams & Wilstead with a recorded outcome, 33% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 5.3% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 248 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 307 | 38.0% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 266 | 33.0% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 101 | 12.5% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 43 | 5.3% | 5.2% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 34 | 4.2% | 1.3% |
| Status update unavailable | 19 | 2.4% | 4.7% |
| Local resolution | 13 | 1.6% | 3.1% |
| Court result unavailable | 11 | 1.4% | 2.5% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 4 | 0.5% | 0.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 4 | 0.5% | 0.6% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.4% | 0.3% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.1% | 0.3% |
Wixams & Wilstead has an estimated population of 15,442 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer households without a car (9.4%, against 23.3%), less private renting (8.6%, against 20.3%) and more children (26%, against 18%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Wixams & Wilstead average decile 6.3 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Wixams & Wilstead | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 25.9% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 14.3% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 67.0% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.2% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 18.4% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 5.4% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 34.7% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 14.3% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 9.4% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 77.4% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 13.9% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 8.6% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.3 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Wixams & Wilstead a safe place to live?
Wixams & Wilstead recorded 68.3 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 2,301st of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Wixams & Wilstead?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 369 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (248).
Is crime in Wixams & Wilstead going up or down?
Recorded crime in Wixams & Wilstead was up 7% on the year before: 1,055 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 982 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Wixams & Wilstead?
About 15,442 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 14% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Wixams & Wilstead?
Wixams & Wilstead 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.