Houghton Regis Crime Overview
Houghton Regis is the second most dangerous small town in Bedfordshire, and is the 24th most dangerous overall out of Bedfordshire's 127 towns, villages, and cities. The overall crime rate in Houghton Regis in 2020 was 68 crimes per 1,000 people. This compares favourably to Bedfordshire's overall crime rate, coming in 6% lower than the Bedfordshire rate of 72 per 1,000 residents. For England, Wales, and Northern Ireland as a whole, Houghton Regis is the 219th most dangerous small town, and the 1,535th most dangerous location out of all towns, cities, and villages.
In November 2020, Houghton Regis was the worst small town in Bedfordshire for burglary, with 23 crimes reported and a crime rate of 1.2 per 1,000 inhabitants. September 2020 was also a bad month for Houghton Regis residents, when it was Bedfordshire's most dangerous small town for criminal damage and arson, recording 12 crimes at a rate of 0.61 per 1,000 residents. Houghton Regis recorded 7 reports of bicycle theft during July 2020, making its crime rate of 0.36 the worst small town for bicycle theft in Bedfordshire that month.
The most common crimes in Houghton Regis are violence and sexual offences, with 515 offences during 2020, giving a crime rate of 26. This is 17% lower than 2019's figure of 603 offences and a difference of 4.49 from 2019's crime rate of 31. Houghton Regis's least common crimes are possession of weapons, with 2 offences recorded in 2020, a decrease of 500% from 2019's figure of 12 crimes.
Compare Houghton Regis to other towns and cities
See how Houghton Regis shapes up compared to other locations around the country, including side-by-side comparisons of specific crime types, and separate charting of how Houghton Regis and your comparison town's crime rates stack up against one another.
Houghton Regis Crime Map
Crime in Houghton Regis Compared To Bedfordshire
Summary of Crimes in Houghton Regis This Year
| Houghton Regis | Bedfordshire | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crime | Count | Rate | Count | Rate | Rate Difference |
| Anti-Social Behaviour | 458 | 23.37 | 14,995 | 22.22 | 4.9% more dangerous |
| Bicycle Theft | 16 | 0.82 | 988 | 1.46 | 78% safer |
| Burglary | 120 | 6.12 | 3,497 | 5.18 | 15% more dangerous |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | 157 | 8.01 | 4,944 | 7.32 | 9% more dangerous |
| Drugs | 29 | 1.48 | 1,657 | 2.45 | 66% safer |
| Other Crime | 35 | 1.79 | 1,039 | 1.54 | 14% more dangerous |
| Other Theft | 86 | 4.39 | 3,881 | 5.75 | 31% safer |
| Possession of Weapons | 2 | 0.10 | 329 | 0.49 | 390% safer |
| Public Order | 126 | 6.43 | 5,103 | 7.56 | 18% safer |
| Robbery | 19 | 0.97 | 597 | 0.88 | 9% more dangerous |
| Shoplifting | 28 | 1.43 | 2,504 | 3.71 | 159% safer |
| Theft From the Person | 9 | 0.46 | 464 | 0.69 | 50% safer |
| Vehicle Crime | 192 | 9.80 | 5,613 | 8.32 | 15% more dangerous |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | 515 | 26.28 | 18,031 | 26.71 | 1.6% safer |
Crime Over Time in Houghton Regis
View crime percentage over time forRecent Crimes in Houghton Regis
| Date | Crime Type | Location | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 2021 | Burglary | On or near Roman Gardens | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| November 2021 | Vehicle crime | On or near Hayley Court | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| November 2021 | Public order | On or near Meadow Lane | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| November 2021 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Parkside Drive | Further action is not in the public interest |
| November 2021 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Parkside Drive | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| November 2021 | Public order | On or near Sports/Recreation Area | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| November 2021 | Public order | On or near Parking Area | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| November 2021 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Parking Area | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| November 2021 | Criminal damage and arson | On or near Recreation Road | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| November 2021 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Recreation Road | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| November 2021 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Recreation Road | Action to be taken by another organisation |
| November 2021 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Mayer Way | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| November 2021 | Criminal damage and arson | On or near Gilpin Close | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| November 2021 | Other theft | On or near Constable Close | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| November 2021 | Vehicle crime | On or near Hammersmith Close | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| November 2021 | Other theft | On or near Townsend Farm Road | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| November 2021 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Bromley Gardens | Action to be taken by another organisation |
| November 2021 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Bromley Gardens | Action to be taken by another organisation |
| November 2021 | Other theft | On or near Clarkes Way | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| November 2021 | Burglary | On or near Fensome Drive | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
Houghton Regis Crime Trends
| Crime Rate Per 1,000 Residents | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crime | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | Trend |
| Anti-Social Behaviour | 52 | 36 | 24 | 23 | Safer |
| Bicycle Theft | 1.7 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 0.82 | Safer |
| Burglary | 10 | 14 | 8 | 6 | Safer |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | 13 | 13 | 12 | 8 | Safer |
| Drugs | 1.1 | 2.2 | 1.7 | 1.5 | Safer |
| Other Crime | 0.77 | 1.7 | 1.5 | 1.8 | Getting worse |
| Other Theft | 4.8 | 6 | 6 | 4.4 | Safer |
| Possession of Weapons | 0.66 | 0.97 | 0.61 | 0.10 | Safer |
| Public Order | 4.1 | 7 | 8 | 6 | Getting worse |
| Robbery (inc. mugging) | 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 0.97 | Safer |
| Shoplifting | 3.2 | 6 | 2.4 | 1.4 | Safer |
| Theft From the Person (inc. pickpocketing) | 0.36 | 0.61 | 0.46 | 0.46 | Safer |
| Vehicle Crime | 9 | 15 | 9 | 10 | Safer |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | 20 | 26 | 31 | 26 | Getting worse |
Changes In Houghton Regis's Crime Rates Over Time
Comparing Houghton Regis to the UK's Major Cities
| Small Town | Crime Rate | Rate Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Barnet | 67.71 | 0.53% safer |
| Houghton Regis | 68.07 | - |
| Coventry | 77.41 | 12% more dangerous |
| Croydon | 83.22 | 18% more dangerous |
| Sheffield | 85.81 | 21% more dangerous |
| Bristol | 86.21 | 21% more dangerous |
| Leicester | 97.44 | 30% more dangerous |
| Birmingham | 102.87 | 34% more dangerous |
| Liverpool | 107.28 | 37% more dangerous |
| Bradford | 133.02 | 49% more dangerous |
| Leeds | 137.10 | 50% more dangerous |
Crime in Houghton Regis's Neighbourhoods
| Neighbourhood | Crime Count | Crime Rate | Danger Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houghton Regis North | 641 | 66 | Second |
| Houghton Regis South | 699 | 71 | First |
Crime in Houghton Regis During Coronavirus Lockdowns
Looking at the months the UK was in lockdown in 2020 due to Covid-19, how did crime rates in Houghton Regis change compared to the same month in 2019? The biggest increase in lockdown crime came in July, when Houghton Regis saw a 600% increase in bicycle theft. Houghton Regis saw a large fall in bicycle theft during August, when it fell by 88% compared to August in 2019.
| Crime | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anti-Social Behaviour | -18% | -19% | -20% | +33% | - | -10% | +54% | +37% | +17% | +17% |
| Bicycle Theft | - | - | +100% | - | +600% | -88% | - | -67% | - | +50% |
| Burglary | -50% | -57% | - | +11% | -48% | +100% | -64% | +113% | +130% | -25% |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | -43% | +8% | -62% | -37% | -10% | -25% | -65% | -28% | +67% | -50% |
| Drugs | -67% | - | -40% | - | - | +300% | +400% | +150% | -40% | +100% |
| Other Crime | - | - | +25% | - | - | - | - | +100% | - | +100% |
| Other Theft | -75% | -64% | -41% | +10% | -13% | -56% | +25% | +83% | +50% | -31% |
| Possession of Weapons | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Public Order | -6% | -77% | -24% | -31% | -33% | +17% | -17% | +60% | -28% | +67% |
| Robbery | - | - | +100% | - | +67% | -50% | - | +100% | - | - |
| Shoplifting | -29% | -60% | -88% | -83% | - | +100% | -33% | - | - | - |
| Theft From the Person | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | +100% |
| Vehicle Crime | +20% | -70% | +38% | +7% | +67% | +100% | -40% | -8% | +267% | -50% |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | -29% | -25% | +8% | -2% | -6% | -10% | -2% | -31% | -40% | +11% |
Frequently Asked Questions About Crime in Houghton Regis
What police force serves Houghton Regis?
Houghton Regis's local territorial police force is the Bedfordshire Police.How dangerous is Houghton Regis?
Houghton Regis is the second most dangerous small town in Bedfordshire.What is Houghton Regis's most common crime?
The most common crimes in Houghton Regis are violence and sexual offences.What is the least common crime in Houghton Regis?
Houghton Regis's least common crimes are possession of weapons.Last updated: 31 Dec 2021