Crime in Shefford: statistics, rates and trends
607 crimes were recorded in Shefford in the 12 months to July 2026, 72.2 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 28% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Shefford at a glance
- Crime trends in Shefford
- Types of crime in Shefford
- Shefford compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Shefford
- Streets with the most crime in Shefford
- What happened after crimes were reported in Shefford
- Population and deprivation in Shefford
- Questions about crime in Shefford
- About this data
607 crimes were recorded in Shefford in the 12 months to July 2026, 72.2 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 28% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 165 reports (27% of the total).
Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Shefford has the 743rd highest crime rate.
| Measure | Shefford | Central Bedfordshire | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 607 | 19,207 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 72.2 | 60.8 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -28% | -3% | -1% |
| Population | 8,412 | 315,877 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Shefford was highest in the year to July 2025 (839 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2022 (482). Over the whole period it fell 7%, 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 | 607 | 72.2 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 839 | 99.7 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 707 | 84.0 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 791 | 94.0 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 482 | 57.3 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 587 | 69.8 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 607 | 72.2 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 761 | 90.5 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 651 | 77.4 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 52 |
| June 2026 | 39 |
| May 2026 | 42 |
| April 2026 | 103 |
| March 2026 | 48 |
| February 2026 | 48 |
| January 2026 | 49 |
| December 2025 | 26 |
| November 2025 | 53 |
| October 2025 | 50 |
| September 2025 | 40 |
| August 2025 | 57 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Shefford 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 shoplifting, vehicle crime.
The largest increases were in criminal damage and arson (+19%) and vehicle crime (+12%). The largest falls were in shoplifting (-58%) and anti-social behaviour (-38%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 165 | 19.6 | 0.57 | -3% |
| Shoplifting | 122 | 14.5 | 1.75 | -58% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 98 | 11.7 | 0.76 | -38% |
| Vehicle crime | 54 | 6.4 | 1.30 | +12% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 44 | 5.2 | 0.77 | +19% |
| Other theft | 34 | 4.0 | 0.63 | -17% |
| Public order | 33 | 3.9 | 0.59 | -34% |
| Drugs | 22 | 2.6 | 0.80 | +267% |
| Other crime | 17 | 2.0 | 0.96 | +70% |
| Burglary | 6 | 0.7 | 0.20 | -50% |
| Possession of weapons | 5 | 0.6 | 0.61 | -44% |
| Bicycle theft | 3 | 0.4 | 0.43 | +50% |
| Robbery | 3 | 0.4 | 0.26 | +0% |
| Theft from the person | 1 | 0.1 | 0.07 | -50% |
Violence and sexual offences in Shefford
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Shefford recorded 165 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (19.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 3% on the year before. It made up 27.2% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Shefford
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Shefford recorded 122 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (14.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 58% on the year before. It made up 20.1% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Shefford
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Shefford recorded 98 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (11.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 38% on the year before. It made up 16.1% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Shefford
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Shefford recorded 54 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 12% on the year before. It made up 8.9% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Shefford
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Shefford recorded 44 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 19% on the year before. It made up 7.2% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Shefford
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Shefford recorded 34 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 17% on the year before. It made up 5.6% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Shefford
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Shefford recorded 33 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 34% on the year before. It made up 5.4% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Shefford
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Shefford recorded 22 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 267% on the year before. It made up 3.6% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Shefford
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Shefford recorded 17 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.0 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 70% on the year before. It made up 2.8% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Shefford
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Shefford recorded 6 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 50% on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Shefford
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Shefford recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 44% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Shefford
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Shefford recorded 3 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 50% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Shefford
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Shefford recorded 3 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Shefford
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Shefford recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 50% on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the towns closest to Shefford, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Shefford.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Shefford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arlesey | 366 | 57.5 | -20% |
| Stotfold | 660 | 48.2 | -33% |
| Biggleswade | 1,547 | 66.2 | -8% |
| Letchworth | 2,841 | 84.5 | +17% |
| Barton-le-Clay | 188 | 37.4 | -48% |
| Hitchin | 2,459 | 67.9 | -6% |
| Shortstown | 418 | 70.9 | -2% |
| Wixams | 567 | 67.4 | -7% |
1 areas within Shefford, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Shefford had the highest rate (67.6 per 1,000) and Shefford the lowest (67.6). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shefford | Neighbourhood | 10,556 | 714 | 67.6 |
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 Shefford over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 113 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 33 |
| On or near High Street | 30 |
| On or near Duck Lane | 25 |
| On or near Thresher Close | 24 |
| On or near George Street | 16 |
| On or near Davy Drive | 13 |
| On or near Osborn Crescent | 13 |
| On or near Hitchin Road | 12 |
| On or near Queen Elizabeth Close | 12 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Shefford 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 224 | 36.9% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 151 | 24.9% |
| Not recorded | 98 | 16.1% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 43 | 7.1% |
| Under investigation | 42 | 6.9% |
| Court result unavailable | 17 | 2.8% |
| Local resolution | 10 | 1.6% |
| Status update unavailable | 8 | 1.3% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 6 | 1.0% |
| Offender given a caution | 4 | 0.7% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.5% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.2% |
Shefford has an estimated population of 8,412. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Shefford sits in decile 7.2, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Shefford |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 21.3% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 62.4% |
| Aged 65 and over | 16.4% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 70.0% |
| Social rented homes | 17.2% |
| Private rented homes | 12.8% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 7.2 |
Is Shefford a safe place to live?
Shefford recorded 72.2 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 Shefford?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 165 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by shoplifting (122).
Is crime in Shefford going up or down?
Recorded crime in Shefford was down 28% on the year before: 607 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 839 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Shefford?
Shefford 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 Shefford. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.