Crime in Cranfield: statistics, rates and trends
372 crimes were recorded in Cranfield in the 12 months to August 2026, 42.6 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 5% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Cranfield at a glance
- Crime trends in Cranfield
- Types of crime in Cranfield
- Cranfield compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Cranfield
- Streets with the most crime in Cranfield
- What happened after crimes were reported in Cranfield
- Demographics of Cranfield
- Questions about crime in Cranfield
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (125), anti-social behaviour (66) and burglary (34) made up 60% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 1,256th of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lowest tenth.
| Measure | Cranfield | Central Bedfordshire | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 372 | 19,387 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 42.6 | 61.4 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +5% | -1% | -1% |
| Population | 8,733 | 315,877 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Cranfield peaked in the year to August 2020 (387 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2018 (317). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it rose 17%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 372 | 42.6 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 353 | 40.4 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 358 | 41.0 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 375 | 42.9 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 337 | 38.6 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 325 | 37.2 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 387 | 44.3 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 373 | 42.7 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 317 | 36.3 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 45 |
| July 2026 | 43 |
| June 2026 | 25 |
| May 2026 | 32 |
| April 2026 | 34 |
| March 2026 | 34 |
| February 2026 | 30 |
| January 2026 | 23 |
| December 2025 | 24 |
| November 2025 | 28 |
| October 2025 | 29 |
| September 2025 | 25 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and criminal damage and arson (66% below) and violence and sexual offences (58% below) were well below it. On the year before, other theft rose from 21 to 33, while criminal damage and arson fell from 35 to 20.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 125 | 14.3 | 34.2 | +5% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 66 | 7.6 | 15.4 | -13% |
| Burglary | 34 | 3.9 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Other theft | 33 | 3.8 | 6.4 | +57% |
| Public order | 30 | 3.4 | 6.7 | +7% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 20 | 2.3 | 6.7 | -43% |
| Vehicle crime | 20 | 2.3 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Drugs | 17 | 1.9 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Other crime | 12 | 1.4 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Shoplifting | 9 | 1.0 | 8.5 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 3 | 0.3 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 2 | 0.2 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 1 | 0.1 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
6 of the 8 nearest towns have a higher crime rate than Cranfield; the highest is Milton Keynes (109.2 per 1,000) and the lowest Wootton (Bedford) (36.5).
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Cranfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marston Moretaine | 300 | 53.2 | +25% |
| Wootton (Bedford) | 305 | 36.5 | -14% |
| Newport Pagnell | 966 | 62.1 | +46% |
| Kempston | 2,008 | 94.2 | +121% |
| Ampthill | 370 | 39.9 | -6% |
| Wixams | 588 | 69.9 | +64% |
| Flitwick | 571 | 50.0 | +17% |
| Milton Keynes | 21,460 | 109.2 | +156% |
Cranfield & Marston Moretaine is the one area listed within Cranfield, with 46.7 crimes per 1,000 residents.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cranfield & Marston Moretaine | Neighbourhood | 17,840 | 833 | 46.7 |
The 10 locations below account for 49% of the crime recorded in Cranfield over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Salford Road” (44).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Salford Road | 44 |
| On or near Hotch Croft | 28 |
| On or near Gadsden Close | 19 |
| On or near Lanchester Road | 18 |
| On or near Maltings Close | 18 |
| On or near Kings Grove | 15 |
| On or near The Old Furlong | 12 |
| On or near Parking Area | 11 |
| On or near Lower Breaches Gardens | 9 |
| On or near Millards Close | 9 |
Of the 306 crimes in Cranfield with a recorded outcome, 36% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 2.0% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 66 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 117 | 38.2% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 109 | 35.6% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 37 | 12.1% | 11.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 10 | 3.3% | 4.7% |
| Local resolution | 8 | 2.6% | 3.1% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 7 | 2.3% | 1.3% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 6 | 2.0% | 5.2% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 5 | 1.6% | 0.5% |
| Court result unavailable | 4 | 1.3% | 2.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 2 | 0.7% | 0.6% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.3% | 0.3% |
Cranfield has an estimated population of 8,733 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has more students (19.6%, against 7.9%), fewer households without a car (9.6%, against 23.3%) and fewer residents with no qualifications (10%, against 18%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Cranfield average decile 8.2 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.
| Measure | Cranfield | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 20.2% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 13.0% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 58.9% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 4.1% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 15.8% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 19.6% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 44.8% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 10.4% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 9.6% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 74.9% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 10.7% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 14.3% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 8.2 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Cranfield a safe place to live?
Cranfield recorded 42.6 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 1,256th of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Cranfield?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 125 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (66).
Is crime in Cranfield going up or down?
Recorded crime in Cranfield was up 5% on the year before: 372 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 353 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Cranfield?
About 8,733 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 13% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Cranfield?
Cranfield 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.