Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
MK41 · Bedford Borough
179
crimes in April 2026
Near national average
LU3 · Luton
250
crimes in April 2026
Above national average
Bedford has less crime — 179 vs 250 incidents in April 2026.
Luton saw somewhat more crime than Bedford in April 2026 (250 vs 179 incidents). The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Bedford sees higher rates of Shoplifting (38), while Luton has more Criminal damage & arson (22). 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, Bedford recorded fewer crimes than Luton — 179 vs 250 incidents. That is 28% fewer crimes. Luton is above the national average.
The main difference lies in crime type. In April 2026, Bedford saw higher rates of Shoplifting while Luton had more Criminal damage & arson. Overall, Bedford recorded fewer total crimes (179 vs 250).