Crime in Houghton Regis: statistics, rates and trends
2,303 crimes were recorded in Houghton Regis in the 12 months to August 2026, 92.5 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 7% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Houghton Regis at a glance
- Crime trends in Houghton Regis
- Types of crime in Houghton Regis
- Houghton Regis compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Houghton Regis
- Streets with the most crime in Houghton Regis
- What happened after crimes were reported in Houghton Regis
- Demographics of Houghton Regis
- Questions about crime in Houghton Regis
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (876), anti-social behaviour (533) and criminal damage and arson (186) made up 69% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 439th of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the upper half.
| Measure | Houghton Regis | Central Bedfordshire | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 2,303 | 19,387 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 92.5 | 61.4 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +7% | -1% | -1% |
| Population | 24,900 | 315,877 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Houghton Regis peaked in the year to August 2018 (2,536 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2020 (1,813). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 9%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 2,303 | 92.5 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 2,143 | 86.1 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 2,334 | 93.7 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 2,022 | 81.2 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 2,002 | 80.4 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 1,819 | 73.1 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 1,813 | 72.8 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 2,359 | 94.7 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 2,536 | 101.8 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 220 |
| July 2026 | 261 |
| June 2026 | 209 |
| May 2026 | 229 |
| April 2026 | 207 |
| March 2026 | 164 |
| February 2026 | 157 |
| January 2026 | 166 |
| December 2025 | 145 |
| November 2025 | 173 |
| October 2025 | 204 |
| September 2025 | 168 |
Compared with England and Wales, Houghton Regis recorded notably more other crime (52% above the national rate) and anti-social behaviour (39% above the national rate), and notably less shoplifting (87% below) and burglary (36% below). On the year before, other crime rose from 56 to 80 and anti-social behaviour rose from 410 to 533, while shoplifting fell from 163 to 27 and burglary fell from 81 to 57.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 876 | 35.2 | 34.2 | +8% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 533 | 21.4 | 15.4 | +30% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 186 | 7.5 | 6.7 | +21% |
| Public order | 156 | 6.3 | 6.7 | +29% |
| Vehicle crime | 134 | 5.4 | 5.0 | +13% |
| Other theft | 125 | 5.0 | 6.4 | -5% |
| Other crime | 80 | 3.2 | 2.1 | +43% |
| Drugs | 65 | 2.6 | 3.3 | +25% |
| Burglary | 57 | 2.3 | 3.6 | -30% |
| Robbery | 34 | 1.4 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Shoplifting | 27 | 1.1 | 8.5 | -83% |
| Possession of weapons | 11 | 0.4 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 10 | 0.4 | 1.7 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 9 | 0.4 | 0.8 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
Houghton Regis has a higher crime rate than all 8 of its nearest towns.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Houghton Regis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dunstable | 2,628 | 73.4 | -21% |
| Luton | 22,791 | 91.6 | -1% |
| Barton-le-Clay | 198 | 39.4 | -57% |
| Leighton Buzzard | 2,869 | 63.7 | -31% |
| Flitwick | 571 | 50.0 | -46% |
| Ampthill | 370 | 39.9 | -57% |
| Harpenden | 1,086 | 37.6 | -59% |
| Tring | 730 | 55.9 | -40% |
Of the 2 areas within Houghton Regis, Houghton Regis East had the highest crime rate (93.0 per 1,000) and Houghton Regis West the lowest (92.0).
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houghton Regis East | Neighbourhood | 12,489 | 1,161 | 93.0 |
| Houghton Regis West | Neighbourhood | 12,411 | 1,142 | 92.0 |
The 10 locations below account for 34% of the crime recorded in Houghton Regis over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Parking Area” (162).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 162 |
| On or near Houghton Park Road | 98 |
| On or near Houghton Road | 92 |
| On or near Morpeth Crescent | 84 |
| On or near Yew Street | 79 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 71 |
| On or near Thornhill Close | 53 |
| On or near Harebell Gardens | 52 |
| On or near Bedford Road | 47 |
| On or near Trident Drive | 44 |
Of the 1,770 crimes in Houghton Regis with a recorded outcome, 32% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 2.4% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 533 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 801 | 45.3% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 560 | 31.6% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 161 | 9.1% | 11.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 49 | 2.8% | 4.7% |
| Court result unavailable | 45 | 2.5% | 2.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 44 | 2.5% | 1.3% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 43 | 2.4% | 5.2% |
| Local resolution | 32 | 1.8% | 3.1% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 11 | 0.6% | 0.3% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 10 | 0.6% | 0.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 9 | 0.5% | 0.6% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 5 | 0.3% | 0.5% |
Houghton Regis has an estimated population of 24,900 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has more social housing (24%, against 17%), a younger population (12%, against 19%) and more children (25%, against 18%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Houghton Regis average decile 4.5 (1 = most deprived), more deprived than average.
| Measure | Houghton Regis | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 24.5% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 11.8% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 63.5% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 3.8% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 14.9% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 6.8% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 26.0% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 21.1% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 16.3% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 61.7% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 23.6% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 14.6% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 4.5 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Houghton Regis a safe place to live?
Houghton Regis recorded 92.5 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 439th of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were other crime and anti-social behaviour.
What is the most common crime in Houghton Regis?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 876 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (533).
Is crime in Houghton Regis going up or down?
Recorded crime in Houghton Regis was up 7% on the year before: 2,303 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 2,143 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Houghton Regis?
About 24,900 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 12% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Houghton Regis?
Houghton Regis 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.