Crime in Blandford: statistics, rates and trends
590 crimes were recorded in Blandford in the 12 months to August 2026, 55.8 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 14% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Blandford at a glance
- Crime trends in Blandford
- Types of crime in Blandford
- Blandford compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Blandford
- What happened after crimes were reported in Blandford
- Demographics of Blandford
- Questions about crime in Blandford
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (221), anti-social behaviour (158) and criminal damage and arson (46) made up 72% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 2,792nd of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lower half.
| Measure | Blandford | Dorset | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 590 | 21,072 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 55.8 | 54.0 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -14% | -4% | -1% |
| Population | 10,569 | 389,947 | 58,127,638 |
The year to August 2026 had the least recorded crime in Blandford of any year here (590 crimes). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 27%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 590 | 55.8 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 684 | 64.7 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 722 | 68.3 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 758 | 71.7 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 792 | 74.9 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 794 | 75.1 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 796 | 75.3 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 786 | 74.4 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 811 | 76.7 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 78 |
| July 2026 | 74 |
| June 2026 | 37 |
| May 2026 | 50 |
| April 2026 | 51 |
| March 2026 | 39 |
| February 2026 | 37 |
| January 2026 | 48 |
| December 2025 | 47 |
| November 2025 | 55 |
| October 2025 | 38 |
| September 2025 | 36 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and public order (62% below) and shoplifting (60% below) were well below it. On the year before, anti-social behaviour rose from 136 to 158, while public order fell from 41 to 27 and shoplifting fell from 51 to 36.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 221 | 20.9 | 34.2 | -9% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 158 | 14.9 | 15.4 | +16% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 46 | 4.4 | 6.7 | -28% |
| Shoplifting | 36 | 3.4 | 8.5 | -29% |
| Other theft | 34 | 3.2 | 6.4 | -19% |
| Public order | 27 | 2.6 | 6.7 | -34% |
| Burglary | 17 | 1.6 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Drugs | 17 | 1.6 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 16 | 1.5 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Other crime | 8 | 0.8 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 4 | 0.4 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Robbery | 3 | 0.3 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 2 | 0.2 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 1 | 0.1 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
2 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Blandford; the highest is Sturminster Newton, Dorset (65.6 per 1,000) and the lowest Cranborne Chase (24.5).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Blandford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winterborne North | 295 | 57.8 | +4% |
| Hill Forts & Upper Tarrants | 167 | 31.4 | -44% |
| Cranborne Chase | 128 | 24.5 | -56% |
| Stour & Allen Vale | 189 | 36.9 | -34% |
| Blackmore Vale | 119 | 29.9 | -46% |
| Sturminster Newton | 317 | 65.6 | +18% |
| Beacon | 213 | 37.6 | -33% |
| Puddletown & Lower Winterborne | 172 | 25.9 | -54% |
The 10 locations below account for 38% of the crime recorded in Blandford over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Parking Area” (67).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 67 |
| On or near Supermarket | 37 |
| On or near Red Lion Yard | 22 |
| On or near Hornbeam Way | 17 |
| On or near Castleman Smith Close | 16 |
| On or near Police Station | 14 |
| On or near Jubilee Way | 13 |
| On or near Market Place | 13 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 12 |
| On or near Stanton Close | 12 |
Of the 432 crimes in Blandford with a recorded outcome, 31% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 4.2% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 158 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 148 | 34.3% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 133 | 30.8% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 62 | 14.4% | 11.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 19 | 4.4% | 4.7% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 18 | 4.2% | 5.2% |
| Local resolution | 17 | 3.9% | 3.1% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 13 | 3.0% | 1.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 10 | 2.3% | 0.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 6 | 1.4% | 0.6% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.7% | 0.3% |
| Court result unavailable | 2 | 0.5% | 2.5% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.2% | 0.3% |
Blandford has an estimated population of 10,569 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer students (3.3%, against 7.9%), an older population (25%, against 19%) and more retired residents (28%, against 22%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Blandford average decile 6.2 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Blandford | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 17.2% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 25.5% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 58.2% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.2% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 27.8% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 3.3% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 27.8% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 17.5% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 17.8% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 64.5% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 18.5% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 16.7% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.2 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Blandford a safe place to live?
Blandford recorded 55.8 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 2,792nd of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Blandford?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 221 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (158).
Is crime in Blandford going up or down?
Recorded crime in Blandford was down 14% on the year before: 590 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 684 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Blandford?
About 10,569 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 25% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Blandford?
Blandford 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.