Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
MK40 · Bedford Borough
600
crimes in April 2026
Above national average
SG8 · Cambridgeshire
45
crimes in April 2026
Below national average
Melbourn has less crime — 45 vs 600 incidents in April 2026.
Bedford recorded substantially more crime than Melbourn in April 2026 — 600 incidents compared to 45, a 13.3x difference. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Bedford sees higher rates of Shoplifting (79), while Melbourn has more Other theft (4). Bedford sits above the national average for recorded crime while Melbourn is below — a significant gap for anyone weighing up the two.
Full reports cover 24 months of trends, ward breakdowns, outcome rates, and a detailed safety score — from £4.99.
Based on April 2026 Police data, Melbourn recorded fewer crimes than Bedford — 45 vs 600 incidents. That is 93% fewer crimes. Melbourn is also below the national average for crime.
The main difference lies in crime type. In April 2026, Bedford saw higher rates of Shoplifting while Melbourn had more Other theft. Overall, Melbourn recorded fewer total crimes (45 vs 600).