Crime in Sandy: statistics, rates and trends
806 crimes were recorded in Sandy in the 12 months to July 2026, 75.4 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 3% on the year before.
Table of Contents
806 crimes were recorded in Sandy in the 12 months to July 2026, 75.4 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 3% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 296 reports (37% of the total).
Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Sandy has the 690th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Sandy | Central Bedfordshire | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 806 | 19,207 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 75.4 | 60.8 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +3% | -3% | -1% |
| Population | 10,684 | 315,877 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Sandy was highest in the year to July 2021 (1,003 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2018 (775). Over the whole period it rose 4%, against a fall of 4% across England and Wales. Rates use today's population for every year, so they show the direction of change rather than exact historic rates.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to July 2026 | 806 | 75.4 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 786 | 73.6 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 924 | 86.5 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 881 | 82.5 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 821 | 76.8 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 1,003 | 93.9 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 937 | 87.7 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 834 | 78.1 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 775 | 72.5 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 87 |
| June 2026 | 67 |
| May 2026 | 68 |
| April 2026 | 65 |
| March 2026 | 52 |
| February 2026 | 63 |
| January 2026 | 60 |
| December 2025 | 63 |
| November 2025 | 59 |
| October 2025 | 78 |
| September 2025 | 62 |
| August 2025 | 82 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Sandy over the 12 months to July 2026. The index compares the local rate with England and Wales: 1.00 is the national rate, 2.00 is double it. Rates were well above the national level for drugs, other crime.
The largest increases were in drugs (+143%) and other theft (+48%). The largest falls were in burglary (-58%) and vehicle crime (-23%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 296 | 27.7 | 0.81 | +4% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 156 | 14.6 | 0.95 | -13% |
| Drugs | 68 | 6.4 | 1.95 | +143% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 58 | 5.4 | 0.80 | -13% |
| Public order | 51 | 4.8 | 0.72 | -14% |
| Vehicle crime | 41 | 3.8 | 0.78 | -23% |
| Other theft | 40 | 3.7 | 0.59 | +48% |
| Other crime | 30 | 2.8 | 1.33 | +58% |
| Shoplifting | 30 | 2.8 | 0.34 | +25% |
| Burglary | 13 | 1.2 | 0.34 | -58% |
| Possession of weapons | 10 | 0.9 | 0.96 | +100% |
| Bicycle theft | 5 | 0.5 | 0.57 | +150% |
| Theft from the person | 5 | 0.5 | 0.28 | +67% |
| Robbery | 3 | 0.3 | 0.21 | -25% |
Violence and sexual offences in Sandy
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Sandy recorded 296 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (27.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 4% on the year before. It made up 36.7% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Sandy
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Sandy recorded 156 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (14.6 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 13% on the year before. It made up 19.4% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Sandy
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Sandy recorded 68 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 143% on the year before. It made up 8.4% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Sandy
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Sandy recorded 58 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 13% on the year before. It made up 7.2% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Sandy
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Sandy recorded 51 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 14% on the year before. It made up 6.3% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Sandy
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Sandy recorded 41 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 23% on the year before. It made up 5.1% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Sandy
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Sandy recorded 40 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 48% on the year before. It made up 5.0% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Sandy
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Sandy recorded 30 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 58% on the year before. It made up 3.7% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Sandy
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Sandy recorded 30 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 25% on the year before. It made up 3.7% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Sandy
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Sandy recorded 13 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 58% on the year before. It made up 1.6% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Sandy
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Sandy recorded 10 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 100% on the year before. It made up 1.2% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Sandy
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Sandy recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 150% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Sandy
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Sandy recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and up 67% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Sandy
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Sandy recorded 3 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and down 25% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the towns closest to Sandy, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Sandy.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Sandy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biggleswade | 1,547 | 66.2 | -12% |
| Shortstown | 418 | 70.9 | -6% |
| St Neots | 2,378 | 72.0 | -5% |
| Shefford | 607 | 72.2 | -4% |
| Bedford | 12,537 | 122.3 | +62% |
| Wixams | 567 | 67.4 | -11% |
| Arlesey | 366 | 57.5 | -24% |
| Stotfold | 660 | 48.2 | -36% |
1 areas within Sandy, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Sandy had the highest rate (84.6 per 1,000) and Sandy the lowest (84.6). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sandy | Neighbourhood | 14,287 | 1,209 | 84.6 |
Police.uk records each crime at an approximate location, usually the centre of a nearby street or a landmark, to protect victims' privacy. These are the locations with the most reports in Sandy over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Mcmurdo Court | 51 |
| On or near Supermarket | 40 |
| On or near Maple Road | 30 |
| On or near Market Square | 28 |
| On or near Potton Road | 27 |
| On or near Wesley Road | 27 |
| On or near Winchester Road | 26 |
| On or near Robert Hunt Gardens | 25 |
| On or near Greens Close | 20 |
| On or near South Road | 20 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Sandy over the 12 months to July 2026. Many cases are still open when the data is published, and anti-social behaviour has no outcome recorded, so these shares change as investigations finish.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 242 | 30.0% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 224 | 27.8% |
| Not recorded | 156 | 19.4% |
| Under investigation | 79 | 9.8% |
| Status update unavailable | 25 | 3.1% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 21 | 2.6% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 20 | 2.5% |
| Court result unavailable | 16 | 2.0% |
| Local resolution | 14 | 1.7% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.4% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.4% |
| Offender given a caution | 2 | 0.2% |
Sandy has an estimated population of 10,684. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Sandy sits in decile 5.8, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Sandy |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 19.1% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 63.8% |
| Aged 65 and over | 17.1% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 65.3% |
| Social rented homes | 20.3% |
| Private rented homes | 14.4% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.8 |
Is Sandy a safe place to live?
Sandy recorded 75.4 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4. Crime is concentrated in a small number of places within most areas, often busy centres and transport hubs, so the rate for a single street can differ a lot from the area as a whole.
What is the most common crime in Sandy?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 296 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (156).
Is crime in Sandy going up or down?
Recorded crime in Sandy was up 3% on the year before: 806 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 786 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Sandy?
Sandy is policed by Bedfordshire. Non-emergency crimes can be reported online to the force or by calling 101; in an emergency call 999.
How are these crime rates calculated?
Each rate is the number of crimes recorded by the police in the 12 months to July 2026, divided by the resident population and multiplied by 1,000. Crime data is from data.police.uk and population estimates are from the Office for National Statistics.
Figures are police-recorded crime published on data.police.uk, covering August 2017 to July 2026. Each crime is counted in the small area (LSOA) where it was recorded and added up to Sandy. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.