Crime in Marston Moretaine: statistics, rates and trends
300 crimes were recorded in Marston Moretaine in the 12 months to August 2026, 53.2 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 2% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Marston Moretaine at a glance
- Crime trends in Marston Moretaine
- Types of crime in Marston Moretaine
- Marston Moretaine compared with nearby towns
- Streets with the most crime in Marston Moretaine
- What happened after crimes were reported in Marston Moretaine
- Demographics of Marston Moretaine
- Questions about crime in Marston Moretaine
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (104), anti-social behaviour (68) and shoplifting (36) made up 69% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 1,094th of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lowest quarter.
| Measure | Marston Moretaine | Central Bedfordshire | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 300 | 19,387 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 53.2 | 61.4 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -2% | -1% | -1% |
| Population | 5,637 | 315,877 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Marston Moretaine peaked in the year to August 2022 (324 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2023 (269). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it rose 4%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 300 | 53.2 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 306 | 54.3 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 323 | 57.3 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 269 | 47.7 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 324 | 57.5 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 272 | 48.3 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 298 | 52.9 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 311 | 55.2 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 289 | 51.3 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 30 |
| July 2026 | 25 |
| June 2026 | 35 |
| May 2026 | 27 |
| April 2026 | 15 |
| March 2026 | 19 |
| February 2026 | 17 |
| January 2026 | 24 |
| December 2025 | 21 |
| November 2025 | 25 |
| October 2025 | 33 |
| September 2025 | 29 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and violence and sexual offences (46% below) and criminal damage and arson (26% below) were well below it. On the year before, violence and sexual offences rose from 90 to 104.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 104 | 18.4 | 34.2 | +16% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 68 | 12.1 | 15.4 | -11% |
| Shoplifting | 36 | 6.4 | 8.5 | -3% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 28 | 5.0 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Public order | 15 | 2.7 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 14 | 2.5 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Other theft | 11 | 2.0 | 6.4 | n/a |
| Drugs | 7 | 1.2 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Burglary | 6 | 1.1 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Other crime | 6 | 1.1 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Robbery | 3 | 0.5 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 2 | 0.4 | 1.0 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
4 of the 8 nearest towns have a higher crime rate than Marston Moretaine; the highest is Bedford (125.5 per 1,000) and the lowest Wootton (Bedford) (36.5).
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Marston Moretaine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wootton (Bedford) | 305 | 36.5 | -31% |
| Cranfield | 372 | 42.6 | -20% |
| Ampthill | 370 | 39.9 | -25% |
| Wixams | 588 | 69.9 | +31% |
| Kempston | 2,008 | 94.2 | +77% |
| Flitwick | 571 | 50.0 | -6% |
| Shortstown | 413 | 70.1 | +32% |
| Bedford | 12,865 | 125.5 | +136% |
The 10 locations below account for 48% of the crime recorded in Marston Moretaine over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Shopping Area” (36).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Shopping Area | 36 |
| On or near Supermarket | 27 |
| On or near Busby Mead | 16 |
| On or near Drapers End | 11 |
| On or near Little Field | 11 |
| On or near Ford Piece | 10 |
| On or near Banks Close | 9 |
| On or near The Green | 9 |
| On or near Little Linns | 8 |
| On or near Oat Piece | 7 |
Of the 232 crimes in Marston Moretaine with a recorded outcome, 33% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 2.2% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 68 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 93 | 40.1% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 77 | 33.2% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 21 | 9.1% | 11.5% |
| Court result unavailable | 12 | 5.2% | 2.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 8 | 3.4% | 1.3% |
| Status update unavailable | 7 | 3.0% | 4.7% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 5 | 2.2% | 5.2% |
| Offender given a caution | 3 | 1.3% | 0.6% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.9% | 0.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.9% | 0.5% |
| Local resolution | 2 | 0.9% | 3.1% |
Marston Moretaine has an estimated population of 5,637 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer households without a car (7.1%, against 23.3%), less private renting (10%, against 20%) and a younger population (12%, against 19%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Marston Moretaine average decile 7.1 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.
| Measure | Marston Moretaine | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 23.8% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 11.8% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 71.2% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.7% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 14.8% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 5.5% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 33.4% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 14.6% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 7.1% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 75.7% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 14.3% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 10.0% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 7.1 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Marston Moretaine a safe place to live?
Marston Moretaine recorded 53.2 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 1,094th of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Marston Moretaine?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 104 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (68).
Is crime in Marston Moretaine going up or down?
Recorded crime in Marston Moretaine was down 2% on the year before: 300 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 306 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Marston Moretaine?
About 5,637 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 12% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Marston Moretaine?
Marston Moretaine 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.