Crime in Charminster St Mary's: statistics, rates and trends
171 crimes were recorded in Charminster St Mary's in the 12 months to July 2026, 21.7 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 29% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Charminster St Mary's at a glance
- Crime trends in Charminster St Mary's
- Types of crime in Charminster St Mary's
- Charminster St Mary's compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Charminster St Mary's
- What happened after crimes were reported in Charminster St Mary's
- Population and deprivation in Charminster St Mary's
- Questions about crime in Charminster St Mary's
- About this data
171 crimes were recorded in Charminster St Mary's in the 12 months to July 2026, 21.7 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 29% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 82 reports (48% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Charminster St Mary's has the 3,896th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Charminster St Mary's | Dorset | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 171 | 20,740 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 21.7 | 53.2 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -29% | -6% | -1% |
| Population | 7,877 | 389,947 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Charminster St Mary's was highest in the year to July 2021 (342 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (171). Over the whole period it fell 41%, 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 | 171 | 21.7 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 241 | 30.6 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 226 | 28.7 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 326 | 41.4 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 264 | 33.5 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 342 | 43.4 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 304 | 38.6 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 266 | 33.8 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 289 | 36.7 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 20 |
| June 2026 | 13 |
| May 2026 | 22 |
| April 2026 | 13 |
| March 2026 | 8 |
| February 2026 | 7 |
| January 2026 | 14 |
| December 2025 | 20 |
| November 2025 | 12 |
| October 2025 | 18 |
| September 2025 | 7 |
| August 2025 | 17 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Charminster St Mary's 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 anti-social behaviour (+17%).
The largest falls were in vehicle crime (-62%) and other theft (-59%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 82 | 10.4 | 0.30 | -32% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 28 | 3.6 | 0.23 | +17% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 17 | 2.2 | 0.32 | +31% |
| Public order | 11 | 1.4 | 0.21 | -39% |
| Other theft | 9 | 1.1 | 0.18 | -59% |
| Vehicle crime | 8 | 1.0 | 0.21 | -62% |
| Burglary | 5 | 0.6 | 0.18 | -17% |
| Shoplifting | 5 | 0.6 | 0.08 | +25% |
| Drugs | 2 | 0.3 | 0.08 | -50% |
| Bicycle theft | 1 | 0.1 | 0.15 | -67% |
| Other crime | 1 | 0.1 | 0.06 | -80% |
| Possession of weapons | 1 | 0.1 | 0.13 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 1 | 0.1 | 0.08 | n/a |
Violence and sexual offences in Charminster St Mary's
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Charminster St Mary's recorded 82 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 32% on the year before. It made up 48.0% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Charminster St Mary's
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Charminster St Mary's recorded 28 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 17% on the year before. It made up 16.4% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Charminster St Mary's
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Charminster St Mary's recorded 17 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 31% on the year before. It made up 9.9% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Charminster St Mary's
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Charminster St Mary's recorded 11 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 39% on the year before. It made up 6.4% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Charminster St Mary's
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Charminster St Mary's recorded 9 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 59% on the year before. It made up 5.3% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Charminster St Mary's
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Charminster St Mary's recorded 8 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 62% on the year before. It made up 4.7% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Charminster St Mary's
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Charminster St Mary's recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 17% on the year before. It made up 2.9% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Charminster St Mary's
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Charminster St Mary's recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 25% on the year before. It made up 2.9% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Charminster St Mary's
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Charminster St Mary's recorded 2 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 50% on the year before. It made up 1.2% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Charminster St Mary's
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Charminster St Mary's recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 67% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Charminster St Mary's
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Charminster St Mary's recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 80% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Charminster St Mary's
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Charminster St Mary's recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and with no comparable figure for the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Charminster St Mary's
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Charminster St Mary's recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and with no comparable figure for the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Charminster St Mary's, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Charminster St Mary's.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Charminster St Mary's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dorchester Poundbury | 430 | 70.0 | +222% |
| Dorchester West | 717 | 99.2 | +357% |
| Dorchester East | 490 | 53.0 | +144% |
| Winterborne & Broadmayne | 103 | 24.5 | +13% |
| Upwey & Broadwey | 210 | 55.6 | +156% |
| Littlemoor & Preston | 630 | 56.3 | +159% |
| Crossways | 154 | 37.3 | +72% |
| Chesil Bank | 126 | 32.6 | +50% |
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 Charminster St Mary's over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 20 |
| On or near Bockhampton Lane | 16 |
| On or near Chestnut Road | 9 |
| On or near Church Lane | 9 |
| On or near Meech Way | 8 |
| On or near Cocklands | 6 |
| On or near Longhorn Hill | 6 |
| On or near Mulberry Gardens | 6 |
| On or near Dorchester Road | 5 |
| On or near Higher Charminster | 5 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Charminster St Mary's 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 | 51 | 29.8% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 47 | 27.5% |
| Not recorded | 28 | 16.4% |
| Under investigation | 22 | 12.9% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 8 | 4.7% |
| Status update unavailable | 4 | 2.3% |
| Local resolution | 4 | 2.3% |
| Court result unavailable | 2 | 1.2% |
| Offender given a caution | 2 | 1.2% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 1 | 0.6% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 1 | 0.6% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.6% |
Charminster St Mary's has an estimated population of 7,877. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Charminster St Mary's sits in decile 6.1, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Charminster St Mary's |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 15.4% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 53.9% |
| Aged 65 and over | 30.7% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 73.4% |
| Social rented homes | 11.4% |
| Private rented homes | 15.2% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.1 |
Is Charminster St Mary's a safe place to live?
Charminster St Mary's recorded 21.7 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 Charminster St Mary's?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 82 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (28).
Is crime in Charminster St Mary's going up or down?
Recorded crime in Charminster St Mary's was down 29% on the year before: 171 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 241 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Charminster St Mary's?
Charminster St Mary's 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 Charminster St Mary's. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.