Crime in Blackmore Vale: statistics, rates and trends
119 crimes were recorded in Blackmore Vale in the 12 months to August 2026, 29.9 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 9% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Blackmore Vale at a glance
- Crime trends in Blackmore Vale
- Types of crime in Blackmore Vale
- Blackmore Vale compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Blackmore Vale
- What happened after crimes were reported in Blackmore Vale
- Demographics of Blackmore Vale
- Questions about crime in Blackmore Vale
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (57), anti-social behaviour (18) and other theft (11) made up 72% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 3,770th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lowest tenth.
| Measure | Blackmore Vale | Dorset | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 119 | 21,072 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 29.9 | 54.0 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +9% | -4% | -1% |
| Population | 3,974 | 389,947 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Blackmore Vale peaked in the year to August 2023 (133 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2018 (95). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it rose 25%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 119 | 29.9 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 109 | 27.4 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 132 | 33.2 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 133 | 33.5 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 98 | 24.7 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 130 | 32.7 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 115 | 28.9 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 102 | 25.7 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 95 | 23.9 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 6 |
| July 2026 | 14 |
| June 2026 | 10 |
| May 2026 | 11 |
| April 2026 | 7 |
| March 2026 | 8 |
| February 2026 | 7 |
| January 2026 | 18 |
| December 2025 | 9 |
| November 2025 | 6 |
| October 2025 | 12 |
| September 2025 | 11 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and violence and sexual offences (58% below) was well below it.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 57 | 14.3 | 34.2 | +2% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 18 | 4.5 | 15.4 | n/a |
| Other theft | 11 | 2.8 | 6.4 | n/a |
| Burglary | 9 | 2.3 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 8 | 2.0 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Public order | 6 | 1.5 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Criminal damage and arson | 5 | 1.3 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Other crime | 3 | 0.8 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Drugs | 1 | 0.3 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 1 | 0.3 | 1.0 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
6 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Blackmore Vale; the highest is Sturminster Newton, Dorset (65.6 per 1,000) and the lowest Puddletown & Lower Winterborne (25.9).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Blackmore Vale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sturminster Newton | 317 | 65.6 | +119% |
| Stalbridge & Marnhull | 178 | 29.5 | -2% |
| Hill Forts & Upper Tarrants | 167 | 31.4 | +5% |
| Blandford | 590 | 55.8 | +86% |
| Beacon | 213 | 37.6 | +26% |
| Winterborne North | 295 | 57.8 | +93% |
| Puddletown & Lower Winterborne | 172 | 25.9 | -13% |
| Sherborne East | 222 | 49.1 | +64% |
The 10 locations below account for 47% of the crime recorded in Blackmore Vale over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Bullocks Lane” and “Ridouts” (8 each).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Bullocks Lane | 8 |
| On or near Ridouts | 8 |
| On or near Fairfield Close | 7 |
| On or near Back Lane | 5 |
| On or near Little Lane | 5 |
| On or near New Road | 5 |
| On or near Pidney Green | 5 |
| On or near Sports/Recreation Area | 5 |
| On or near Honey Bun Meadow | 4 |
| On or near Military Lane | 4 |
Of the 101 crimes in Blackmore Vale with a recorded outcome, 30% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 3.0% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 18 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 51 | 50.5% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 30 | 29.7% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 7 | 6.9% | 11.5% |
| Local resolution | 5 | 5.0% | 3.1% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 3 | 3.0% | 5.2% |
| Status update unavailable | 3 | 3.0% | 4.7% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 1 | 1.0% | 0.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 1 | 1.0% | 0.6% |
Blackmore Vale has an estimated population of 3,974 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer households without a car (5.6%, against 23.3%), an older population (31%, against 19%) and fewer students (3.6%, against 7.9%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Blackmore Vale average decile 5.0 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Blackmore Vale | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 12.7% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 30.9% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 54.5% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 1.7% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 32.6% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 3.6% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 34.6% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 14.9% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 5.6% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 75.9% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 12.0% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 12.2% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.0 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Blackmore Vale a safe place to live?
Blackmore Vale recorded 29.9 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 3,770th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Blackmore Vale?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 57 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (18).
Is crime in Blackmore Vale going up or down?
Recorded crime in Blackmore Vale was up 9% on the year before: 119 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 109 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Blackmore Vale?
About 3,974 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 31% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Blackmore Vale?
Blackmore Vale 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.