Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
MK41 · Bedford Borough
179
crimes in April 2026
Near national average
LU5 · Central Bedfordshire
184
crimes in April 2026
Near national average
Bedford has less crime — 179 vs 184 incidents in April 2026.
Bedford and Thorn recorded very similar overall crime levels in April 2026 — 179 and 184 incidents respectively. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Bedford sees higher rates of Shoplifting (38), 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, Bedford recorded fewer crimes than Thorn — 179 vs 184 incidents. That is 3% fewer crimes.
The main difference lies in crime type. In April 2026, Bedford saw higher rates of Shoplifting while Thorn had more Criminal damage & arson. Overall, Bedford recorded fewer total crimes (179 vs 184).