Crime in Canford Heath: statistics, rates and trends
820 crimes were recorded in Canford Heath in the 12 months to July 2026, 58.2 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 21% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Canford Heath at a glance
- Crime trends in Canford Heath
- Types of crime in Canford Heath
- Canford Heath compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Canford Heath
- What happened after crimes were reported in Canford Heath
- Population and deprivation in Canford Heath
- Questions about crime in Canford Heath
- About this data
820 crimes were recorded in Canford Heath in the 12 months to July 2026, 58.2 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 21% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 300 reports (37% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Canford Heath has the 2,673rd highest crime rate.
| Measure | Canford Heath | Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 820 | 35,434 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 58.2 | 86.6 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -21% | -4% | -1% |
| Population | 14,084 | 408,967 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Canford Heath was highest in the year to July 2019 (1,500 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (820). Over the whole period it fell 31%, 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.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to July 2026 | 820 | 58.2 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 1,044 | 74.1 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 990 | 70.3 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 1,139 | 80.9 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 1,122 | 79.7 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 952 | 67.6 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 1,218 | 86.5 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 1,500 | 106.5 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 1,195 | 84.8 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 84 |
| June 2026 | 73 |
| May 2026 | 82 |
| April 2026 | 79 |
| March 2026 | 65 |
| February 2026 | 56 |
| January 2026 | 56 |
| December 2025 | 58 |
| November 2025 | 63 |
| October 2025 | 64 |
| September 2025 | 67 |
| August 2025 | 73 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Canford Heath 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. Rates were well above the national level for bicycle theft.
The largest increases were in shoplifting (+11%). The largest falls were in anti-social behaviour (-33%) and public order (-31%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 300 | 21.3 | 0.62 | -16% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 217 | 15.4 | 1.00 | -33% |
| Other theft | 60 | 4.3 | 0.67 | -14% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 52 | 3.7 | 0.54 | -30% |
| Shoplifting | 42 | 3.0 | 0.36 | +11% |
| Vehicle crime | 40 | 2.8 | 0.58 | -15% |
| Burglary | 35 | 2.5 | 0.70 | -20% |
| Public order | 33 | 2.3 | 0.35 | -31% |
| Bicycle theft | 20 | 1.4 | 1.73 | +43% |
| Drugs | 11 | 0.8 | 0.24 | -8% |
| Other crime | 5 | 0.4 | 0.17 | -44% |
| Theft from the person | 3 | 0.2 | 0.13 | +50% |
| Robbery | 2 | 0.1 | 0.11 | +0% |
Violence and sexual offences in Canford Heath
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Canford Heath recorded 300 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (21.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 16% on the year before. It made up 36.6% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Canford Heath
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Canford Heath recorded 217 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (15.4 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 33% on the year before. It made up 26.5% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Canford Heath
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Canford Heath recorded 60 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 14% on the year before. It made up 7.3% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Canford Heath
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Canford Heath recorded 52 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 30% on the year before. It made up 6.3% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Canford Heath
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Canford Heath recorded 42 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 11% on the year before. It made up 5.1% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Canford Heath
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Canford Heath recorded 40 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 15% on the year before. It made up 4.9% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Canford Heath
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Canford Heath recorded 35 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 20% on the year before. It made up 4.3% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Canford Heath
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Canford Heath recorded 33 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 31% on the year before. It made up 4.0% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Canford Heath
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Canford Heath recorded 20 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 43% on the year before. It made up 2.4% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Canford Heath
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Canford Heath recorded 11 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 1.3% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Canford Heath
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Canford Heath recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 44% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Canford Heath
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Canford Heath recorded 3 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and up 50% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Canford Heath
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Canford Heath recorded 2 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Canford Heath, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Canford Heath.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Canford Heath |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakdale | 400 | 37.8 | -35% |
| Creekmoor | 597 | 61.2 | +5% |
| Newtown & Heatherlands | 1,381 | 75.7 | +30% |
| Broadstone | 321 | 31.2 | -46% |
| Bearwood & Merley | 819 | 57.0 | -2% |
| Parkstone | 655 | 54.1 | -7% |
| Alderney & Bourne Valley | 1,346 | 80.1 | +38% |
| Poole Town | 2,375 | 173.2 | +198% |
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 Canford Heath over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 76 |
| On or near Terence Avenue | 45 |
| On or near Parking Area | 37 |
| On or near Chedington Close | 27 |
| On or near Ashdown Close | 26 |
| On or near Thorncombe Close | 26 |
| On or near Holly Hedge Lane | 25 |
| On or near Yeatminster Road | 25 |
| On or near Gilmour Drive | 23 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 23 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Canford Heath 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.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 229 | 27.9% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 220 | 26.8% |
| Not recorded | 217 | 26.5% |
| Under investigation | 66 | 8.0% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 20 | 2.4% |
| Status update unavailable | 14 | 1.7% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 14 | 1.7% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 13 | 1.6% |
| Local resolution | 10 | 1.2% |
| Offender given a caution | 9 | 1.1% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 4 | 0.5% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.2% |
Canford Heath has an estimated population of 14,084. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Canford Heath sits in decile 6.6, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Canford Heath |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 18.8% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 61.1% |
| Aged 65 and over | 20.2% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 69.5% |
| Social rented homes | 13.4% |
| Private rented homes | 17.1% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.6 |
Is Canford Heath a safe place to live?
Canford Heath recorded 58.2 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4. Crime is concentrated in a small number of places within most areas, often busy centres and transport hubs, so the rate for a single street can differ a lot from the area as a whole.
What is the most common crime in Canford Heath?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 300 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (217).
Is crime in Canford Heath going up or down?
Recorded crime in Canford Heath was down 21% on the year before: 820 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 1,044 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Canford Heath?
Canford Heath is policed by Dorset. Non-emergency crimes can be reported online to the force or by calling 101; in an emergency call 999.
How are these crime rates calculated?
Each rate is the number of crimes recorded by the police in the 12 months to July 2026, divided by the resident population and multiplied by 1,000. Crime data is from data.police.uk and population estimates are from the Office for National Statistics.
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 Canford Heath. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.