Bedford vs Stevenage — Crime Comparison 2026

Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.

Bedford

MK40 · Bedford Borough

601

crimes in March 2026

Above national average

  • Violence & sexual offences222
  • Anti-social behaviour90
  • Shoplifting53

Stevenage

SG2 · Hertfordshire

169

crimes in March 2026

Near national average

  • Violence & sexual offences72
  • Anti-social behaviour30
  • Shoplifting19

Stevenage has less crime — 169 vs 601 incidents in March 2026.

What the data shows

Bedford recorded substantially more crime than Stevenage in March 2026 — 601 incidents compared to 169, a 3.6x difference. Both areas share Violence & sexual offences as their most common crime type, though Bedford records significantly more (222 vs 72 incidents). Both areas sit near the national average, with modest differences in their overall safety profile.

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Frequently asked questions

Is Bedford or Stevenage safer?

Based on March 2026 Police data, Stevenage recorded fewer crimes than Bedford — 169 vs 601 incidents. That is 72% fewer crimes. Bedford is above the national average.

What are the main differences in crime between Bedford and Stevenage?

Both areas share Violence & sexual offences as their top crime category. In March 2026, Bedford recorded 222 incidents of this type vs 72 in Stevenage. Overall, Stevenage had fewer total crimes (169 vs 601).

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