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28 August 2026
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Freedom of Information (FOI)

Police on the beat on Bedford High Street. Image: Bedfordshire Police/Facebook

Bedfordshire Police records lowest regional uniform spend

Bedfordshire Police spent £1,071 per officer on uniforms across three financial years, with total expenditure of £1.57m remaining the second lowest per head among neighbouring regional forces...
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Child with phone in his hands lying at home on bed. Social Media tiktok is loaded on screen

More than 500 Bedfordshire children linked to crimes mentioning TikTok, data shows

More than 500 Bedfordshire children were victims in crimes where TikTok was referenced between 2023 and 2025, according to police data obtained through an FOI request...
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Happy parent and son hugging each other and having fun at home child family foster children parent Image Nuva Frames Shutterstock

Bedford council cuts agency social worker numbers as permanent workforce grows

New figures show Bedford Borough Council reduced the number of agency social workers in children’s services from 50 to 31 in a year, while permanent staffing increased...
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Bedford Borough Hall Bedford Borough council signage and entrance

Questions over scrutiny as Bedford council officers retain broad decision making powers

Senior officers and councillors at Bedford Borough Council will continue to take a wide range of decisions without full Executive sign-off under updated governance arrangements...
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A calculator and cash in coins and notes.

Bedford Independent investigation reveals £377,000 taxpayer bill under outdated public notice law

A Bedford Independent investigation reveals Bedford Borough Council spent £377,000 on public notices under outdated print laws, prompting calls for reform. The figures, released under the...
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A calculator and cash in coins and notes.

Bedford Independent investigation reveals £377,000 taxpayer bill under outdated public notice law

A Bedford Independent investigation reveals Bedford Borough Council spent £377,000 on public notices under outdated print laws, prompting calls for reform. The figures, released under the...
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Acid attack graphic close up 'stop selling acid' campaign Image Sarfaraz82 Shutterstock

19 ‘acid’ attacks recorded in Bedfordshire over three years

Bedfordshire Police recorded 19 acid and corrosive substance attacks in Bedfordshire over three years, with several cases closed without a suspect identified. The figures, compiled by...
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A computer chip with the letters AI illuminated within a circuit board

Council says AI tools are making Freedom of Information requests more complex

Bedford Borough Council is facing growing pressure in responding to Freedom of Information (FOI) and Subject Access Requests (SARs), with councillors warned that the use of artificial...
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Mechanic checking a car van engine MOT garage workshop Image Pormezz Shutterstock

Nearly 10,000 Bedfordshire cars flagged with overdue MOTs in three years

New figures suggest 9,898 overdue MOTs in Bedfordshire between 2022 and 2024, as data shows millions of cars nationwide being driven without a valid test and common faults like brakes...
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Teenage girl cyberbullying grooming abuse sitting on stairs alone and upset. Image: SB Arts Media/Shutterstock

NSPCC calls for urgent action as online grooming cases double across East of England

The NSPCC has urged urgent action from tech firms after figures show online grooming crimes in the East of England have more than doubled since 2017, with most offences linked to private...
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