Crime in Dorset: statistics, rates and trends

20,740 crimes were recorded in Dorset in the 12 months to July 2026, 53.2 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 6% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 7,510 reports (36% of the total).

Of the 308 districts covered by this site, Dorset has the 287th highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in Dorset was highest in the year to July 2018 (27,688 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (20,740). Over the whole period it fell 25%, against a fall of 4% across England and Wales. Rates use today's population for every year, so they show the direction of change rather than exact historic rates.

Month by month

The table shows every category of crime recorded in Dorset over the 12 months to July 2026. The index compares the local rate with England and Wales: 1.00 is the national rate, 2.00 is double it. The largest increases were in drugs (+14%) and anti-social behaviour (+10%).

The largest falls were in bicycle theft (-37%) and theft from the person (-32%).

Violence and sexual offences in Dorset

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Dorset recorded 7,510 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (19.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 36.2% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Dorset

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Dorset recorded 5,477 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (14.0 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 10% on the year before. It made up 26.4% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Dorset

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Dorset recorded 1,590 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 14% on the year before. It made up 7.7% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Dorset

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Dorset recorded 1,424 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 9% on the year before. It made up 6.9% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Dorset

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Dorset recorded 1,321 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 13% on the year before. It made up 6.4% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Dorset

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Dorset recorded 1,010 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 26% on the year before. It made up 4.9% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Dorset

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Dorset recorded 741 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 3.6% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Dorset

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Dorset recorded 692 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 29% on the year before. It made up 3.3% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Dorset

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Dorset recorded 341 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 14% on the year before. It made up 1.6% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Dorset

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Dorset recorded 265 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 1.3% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Dorset

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Dorset recorded 130 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 6% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Dorset

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Dorset recorded 96 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 7% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Dorset

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Dorset recorded 85 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 37% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Dorset

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Dorset recorded 58 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 32% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.

Crime rates in the districts closest to Dorset, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Dorset.

108 areas within Dorset, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Melcombe Regis had the highest rate (370.1 per 1,000) and Motcombe the lowest (17.4). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.

Police.uk records each crime at an approximate location, usually the centre of a nearby street or a landmark, to protect victims' privacy. These are the locations with the most reports in Dorset over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Dorset over the 12 months to July 2026. Many cases are still open when the data is published, and anti-social behaviour has no outcome recorded, so these shares change as investigations finish.

Dorset has an estimated population of 389,947. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Dorset sits in decile 6.2, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.

Figures are police-recorded crime published on data.police.uk, covering August 2017 to July 2026. Each crime is counted in the small area (LSOA) where it was recorded and added up to Dorset. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.