Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
MK40 · Bedford Borough
600
crimes in April 2026
Above national average
LU5 · Central Bedfordshire
184
crimes in April 2026
Near national average
Thorn has less crime — 184 vs 600 incidents in April 2026.
Bedford recorded substantially more crime than Thorn in April 2026 — 600 incidents compared to 184, a 3.3x difference. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Bedford sees higher rates of Shoplifting (79), while Thorn has more Criminal damage & arson (18). Both areas sit near the national average, with modest differences in their overall safety profile.
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, Thorn recorded fewer crimes than Bedford — 184 vs 600 incidents. That is 69% fewer crimes. Bedford is above the national average.
The main difference lies in crime type. In April 2026, Bedford saw higher rates of Shoplifting while Thorn had more Criminal damage & arson. Overall, Thorn recorded fewer total crimes (184 vs 600).