Crime in Shortstown: statistics, rates and trends
418 crimes were recorded in Shortstown in the 12 months to July 2026, 70.9 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 8% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Shortstown at a glance
- Crime trends in Shortstown
- Types of crime in Shortstown
- Shortstown compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Shortstown
- Streets with the most crime in Shortstown
- What happened after crimes were reported in Shortstown
- Population and deprivation in Shortstown
- Questions about crime in Shortstown
- About this data
418 crimes were recorded in Shortstown in the 12 months to July 2026, 70.9 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 8% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 154 reports (37% of the total).
Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Shortstown has the 777th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Shortstown | Bedford | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 418 | 18,267 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 70.9 | 93.7 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -8% | +2% | -1% |
| Population | 5,894 | 194,976 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Shortstown was highest in the year to July 2025 (454 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2019 (182). Over the whole period it rose 115%, 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 | 418 | 70.9 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 454 | 77.0 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 374 | 63.5 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 242 | 41.1 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 252 | 42.8 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 269 | 45.6 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 188 | 31.9 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 182 | 30.9 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 194 | 32.9 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 29 |
| June 2026 | 41 |
| May 2026 | 39 |
| April 2026 | 29 |
| March 2026 | 42 |
| February 2026 | 24 |
| January 2026 | 47 |
| December 2025 | 47 |
| November 2025 | 26 |
| October 2025 | 34 |
| September 2025 | 26 |
| August 2025 | 34 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Shortstown 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. The largest increases were in vehicle crime (+24%) and violence and sexual offences (+10%).
The largest falls were in anti-social behaviour (-43%) and criminal damage and arson (-40%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 154 | 26.1 | 0.76 | +10% |
| Shoplifting | 60 | 10.2 | 1.23 | -26% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 52 | 8.8 | 0.58 | -43% |
| Other theft | 26 | 4.4 | 0.69 | -16% |
| Vehicle crime | 26 | 4.4 | 0.90 | +24% |
| Drugs | 22 | 3.7 | 1.14 | +100% |
| Public order | 20 | 3.4 | 0.51 | -9% |
| Burglary | 18 | 3.1 | 0.86 | +38% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 15 | 2.5 | 0.38 | -40% |
| Other crime | 13 | 2.2 | 1.04 | +30% |
| Possession of weapons | 5 | 0.8 | 0.87 | +25% |
| Bicycle theft | 3 | 0.5 | 0.62 | +0% |
| Robbery | 2 | 0.3 | 0.25 | +100% |
| Theft from the person | 2 | 0.3 | 0.20 | n/a |
Violence and sexual offences in Shortstown
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Shortstown recorded 154 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (26.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 10% on the year before. It made up 36.8% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Shortstown
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Shortstown recorded 60 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 26% on the year before. It made up 14.4% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Shortstown
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Shortstown recorded 52 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 43% on the year before. It made up 12.4% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Shortstown
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Shortstown recorded 26 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 16% on the year before. It made up 6.2% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Shortstown
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Shortstown recorded 26 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.4 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 24% on the year before. It made up 6.2% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Shortstown
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Shortstown recorded 22 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.7 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 100% on the year before. It made up 5.3% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Shortstown
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Shortstown recorded 20 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 9% on the year before. It made up 4.8% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Shortstown
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Shortstown recorded 18 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 38% on the year before. It made up 4.3% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Shortstown
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Shortstown recorded 15 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 40% on the year before. It made up 3.6% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Shortstown
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Shortstown recorded 13 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.2 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 30% on the year before. It made up 3.1% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Shortstown
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Shortstown recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.8 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 25% on the year before. It made up 1.2% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Shortstown
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Shortstown recorded 3 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 almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Shortstown
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Shortstown recorded 2 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 up 100% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Shortstown
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Shortstown recorded 2 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and with no comparable figure for the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the towns closest to Shortstown, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Shortstown.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Shortstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford | 12,537 | 122.3 | +72% |
| Wixams | 567 | 67.4 | -5% |
| Kempston | 1,993 | 93.5 | +32% |
| Wootton (Bedford) | 290 | 34.7 | -51% |
| Marston Moretaine | 295 | 52.3 | -26% |
| Sandy | 806 | 75.4 | +6% |
| Ampthill | 346 | 37.3 | -47% |
| Shefford | 607 | 72.2 | +2% |
1 areas within Shortstown, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Shortstown had the highest rate (73.5 per 1,000) and Shortstown the lowest (73.5). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shortstown | Neighbourhood | 7,417 | 545 | 73.5 |
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 Shortstown over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Horace Close | 65 |
| On or near Megginson Way | 25 |
| On or near Banks Close | 24 |
| On or near Garland Court | 23 |
| On or near De Havilland Avenue | 15 |
| On or near Blackburn Close | 12 |
| On or near Compass Drive | 12 |
| On or near Flintham | 12 |
| On or near Carmichael Drive | 11 |
| On or near Edwards Close | 11 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Shortstown 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 | 140 | 33.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 121 | 28.9% |
| Not recorded | 52 | 12.4% |
| Under investigation | 38 | 9.1% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 26 | 6.2% |
| Status update unavailable | 17 | 4.1% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 8 | 1.9% |
| Court result unavailable | 5 | 1.2% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.5% |
| Suspect charged as part of another case | 2 | 0.5% |
| Local resolution | 2 | 0.5% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.5% |
Shortstown has an estimated population of 5,894. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Shortstown sits in decile 6.0, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Shortstown |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 26.0% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 68.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 5.6% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 71.4% |
| Social rented homes | 18.3% |
| Private rented homes | 10.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.0 |
Is Shortstown a safe place to live?
Shortstown recorded 70.9 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 Shortstown?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 154 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by shoplifting (60).
Is crime in Shortstown going up or down?
Recorded crime in Shortstown was down 8% on the year before: 418 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 454 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Shortstown?
Shortstown 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 Shortstown. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.