Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
MK41 · Bedford Borough
129
crimes in February 2026
Near national average
LU4 · Luton
259
crimes in February 2026
Above national average
Bedford has less crime — 129 vs 259 incidents in February 2026.
Luton recorded notably higher crime than Bedford in February 2026 — 259 vs 129 incidents. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Bedford sees higher rates of Shoplifting (22), 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 February 2026 Police data, Bedford recorded fewer crimes than Luton — 129 vs 259 incidents. That is 50% fewer crimes. Luton is above the national average.
The main difference lies in crime type. In February 2026, Bedford saw higher rates of Shoplifting while Luton had more Criminal damage & arson. Overall, Bedford recorded fewer total crimes (129 vs 259).