Crime in Beacon, Dorset: statistics, rates and trends
213 crimes were recorded in Beacon, Dorset in the 12 months to August 2026, 37.6 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 19% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Beacon, Dorset at a glance
- Crime trends in Beacon, Dorset
- Types of crime in Beacon, Dorset
- Beacon, Dorset compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Beacon, Dorset
- What happened after crimes were reported in Beacon, Dorset
- Demographics of Beacon, Dorset
- Questions about crime in Beacon, Dorset
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (94), anti-social behaviour (29) and other crime (25) made up 69% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 3,533rd of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lowest tenth.
| Measure | Beacon, Dorset | Dorset | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 213 | 21,072 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 37.6 | 54.0 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -19% | -4% | -1% |
| Population | 5,663 | 389,947 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Beacon, Dorset peaked in the year to August 2018 (409 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2024 (212). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 48%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 213 | 37.6 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 262 | 46.3 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 212 | 37.4 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 246 | 43.4 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 268 | 47.3 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 278 | 49.1 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 321 | 56.7 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 356 | 62.9 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 409 | 72.2 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 31 |
| July 2026 | 21 |
| June 2026 | 10 |
| May 2026 | 24 |
| April 2026 | 17 |
| March 2026 | 12 |
| February 2026 | 13 |
| January 2026 | 10 |
| December 2025 | 25 |
| November 2025 | 15 |
| October 2025 | 23 |
| September 2025 | 12 |
Compared with England and Wales, Beacon, Dorset recorded notably more other crime (2.1 times the national rate), and notably less anti-social behaviour (67% below) and violence and sexual offences (52% below). On the year before, violence and sexual offences fell from 135 to 94.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 94 | 16.6 | 34.2 | -30% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 29 | 5.1 | 15.4 | +4% |
| Other crime | 25 | 4.4 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Criminal damage and arson | 17 | 3.0 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Other theft | 13 | 2.3 | 6.4 | n/a |
| Public order | 12 | 2.1 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Burglary | 10 | 1.8 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Drugs | 5 | 0.9 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 4 | 0.7 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 4 | 0.7 | 5.0 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
4 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Beacon, Dorset; the highest is Shaftesbury Town (72.6 per 1,000) and the lowest Cranborne Chase (24.5).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Beacon, Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shaftesbury Town | 682 | 72.6 | +93% |
| Sturminster Newton | 317 | 65.6 | +75% |
| Gillingham | 635 | 41.7 | +11% |
| Hill Forts & Upper Tarrants | 167 | 31.4 | -16% |
| Stalbridge & Marnhull | 178 | 29.5 | -22% |
| Blackmore Vale | 119 | 29.9 | -20% |
| Blandford | 590 | 55.8 | +48% |
| Cranborne Chase | 128 | 24.5 | -35% |
The 10 locations below account for 69% of the crime recorded in Beacon, Dorset over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “St Annes Close” (85).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near St Annes Close | 85 |
| On or near Park/Open Space | 21 |
| On or near The Glebe | 7 |
| On or near Stour Close | 6 |
| On or near Church Lane | 5 |
| On or near Higher Blandford Road | 5 |
| On or near Mill Hollow Lane | 5 |
| On or near Sports/Recreation Area | 5 |
| On or near Blandford Road | 4 |
| On or near Church Street | 4 |
Of the 184 crimes in Beacon, Dorset with a recorded outcome, 28% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 4.3% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 29 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 53 | 28.8% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 51 | 27.7% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 32 | 17.4% | 11.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 22 | 12.0% | 1.3% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 8 | 4.3% | 5.2% |
| Status update unavailable | 8 | 4.3% | 4.7% |
| Local resolution | 5 | 2.7% | 3.1% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 3 | 1.6% | 0.5% |
| Court result unavailable | 1 | 0.5% | 2.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 1 | 0.5% | 0.6% |
Beacon, Dorset has an estimated population of 5,663 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer households without a car (5.0%, against 23.3%), an older population (32%, against 19%) and less social housing (7.3%, against 17.1%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Beacon, Dorset average decile 6.0 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Beacon, Dorset | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 13.9% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 32.2% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 48.1% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 1.9% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 32.7% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 5.5% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 37.4% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 12.3% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 5.0% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 79.7% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 7.3% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 12.9% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.0 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Beacon, Dorset a safe place to live?
Beacon, Dorset recorded 37.6 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 3,533rd of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were other crime.
What is the most common crime in Beacon, Dorset?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 94 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (29).
Is crime in Beacon, Dorset going up or down?
Recorded crime in Beacon, Dorset was down 19% on the year before: 213 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 262 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Beacon, Dorset?
About 5,663 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 32% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Beacon, Dorset?
Beacon, Dorset is policed by Dorset.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.