Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
MK42 · Bedford Borough
240
crimes in February 2026
Above national average
SG17 · Central Bedfordshire
52
crimes in February 2026
Below national average
Shefford has less crime — 52 vs 240 incidents in February 2026.
Kempston recorded substantially more crime than Shefford in February 2026 — 240 incidents compared to 52, a 4.6x difference. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Kempston sees higher rates of Anti-social behaviour (29), while Shefford has more Other theft (6). Kempston sits above the national average for recorded crime while Shefford is below — a significant gap for anyone weighing up the two.
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, Shefford recorded fewer crimes than Kempston — 52 vs 240 incidents. That is 78% fewer crimes. Shefford is also below the national average for crime.
The main difference lies in crime type. In February 2026, Kempston saw higher rates of Anti-social behaviour while Shefford had more Other theft. Overall, Shefford recorded fewer total crimes (52 vs 240).