As Mayor, I don’t shy away from the hard truths, and this is one of them.
Day after day, I hear the same concerns echoed by residents and business owners: shoplifting is rife, antisocial behaviour is spiralling, aggressive begging goes unchecked, and e-scooters are wreaking havoc on our streets.
People feel unsafe. Businesses are losing confidence.
This isn’t just perception, it’s reality.
That’s why I’ve written to the Chief Constable with a clear and urgent message: this is a public order crisis, and the police must step up. There are too few officers, too little visibility, and no credible deterrent.
We support our police, we pay our taxes, so we expect protection. Right now, that social contract feels broken. But this Council isn’t sitting on its hands.
We’re advancing a strengthened Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) to crack down on street drinking, spitting, littering, aggressive begging, and the reckless misuse of e-scooters and bikes in pedestrian areas.
We stand ready to work with Bedfordshire Police. This isn’t about blame, it’s about shared responsibility. We’re doing our part with the PSPO, and I expect the same urgency from police leadership. No excuses, just action.
On a more cheerful note, let’s not forget that Bedford is more than its challenges. There’s still plenty to celebrate, and with summer just around the corner, festival season is back.
Looking ahead, the Bedford Kite & Motoring Festival returns on the weekend of 21 to 22 June, blending the colour and creativity of the Kite Festival with the thrill of the Festival of Motoring. From classic cars and motorbikes to military vehicles and steam engines, it’s a standout celebration of engineering and community spirit.
Add to that a packed calendar of local favourites like the Kempston Fun Day and Booktastic Festival, and you’ve got a summer full of reasons to get out, connect, and celebrate the very best of Bedford Borough.
For full event details and updates, check the Borough Council’s social media channels.
Let’s face the tough issues head-on, but let’s also remind ourselves what makes this Borough worth fighting for.
This is a monthly guest column provided by elected
Mayor Tom Wootton (Conservative). It is published unedited and
does not reflect the views of the Bedford Independent.
