Crime in Cranborne & Alderholt: statistics, rates and trends
147 crimes were recorded in Cranborne & Alderholt in the 12 months to August 2026, 29.1 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 16% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Cranborne & Alderholt at a glance
- Crime trends in Cranborne & Alderholt
- Types of crime in Cranborne & Alderholt
- Cranborne & Alderholt compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Cranborne & Alderholt
- What happened after crimes were reported in Cranborne & Alderholt
- Demographics of Cranborne & Alderholt
- Questions about crime in Cranborne & Alderholt
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (38), anti-social behaviour (32) and criminal damage and arson (26) made up 65% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 3,791st of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lowest tenth.
| Measure | Cranborne & Alderholt | Dorset | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 147 | 21,072 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 29.1 | 54.0 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -16% | -4% | -1% |
| Population | 5,045 | 389,947 | 58,127,638 |
The year to August 2026 had the least recorded crime in Cranborne & Alderholt of any year here (147 crimes). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 21%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 147 | 29.1 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 176 | 34.9 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 193 | 38.3 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 202 | 40.0 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 205 | 40.6 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 226 | 44.8 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 209 | 41.4 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 222 | 44.0 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 185 | 36.7 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 19 |
| July 2026 | 11 |
| June 2026 | 11 |
| May 2026 | 8 |
| April 2026 | 20 |
| March 2026 | 8 |
| February 2026 | 9 |
| January 2026 | 14 |
| December 2025 | 12 |
| November 2025 | 10 |
| October 2025 | 13 |
| September 2025 | 12 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and violence and sexual offences (78% below) and anti-social behaviour (59% below) were well below it. On the year before, anti-social behaviour rose from 21 to 32, while violence and sexual offences fell from 62 to 38.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 38 | 7.5 | 34.2 | -39% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 32 | 6.3 | 15.4 | +52% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 26 | 5.2 | 6.7 | +4% |
| Burglary | 21 | 4.2 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Other theft | 14 | 2.8 | 6.4 | n/a |
| Public order | 6 | 1.2 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 6 | 1.2 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Other crime | 2 | 0.4 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 1 | 0.2 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Shoplifting | 1 | 0.2 | 8.5 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
6 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Cranborne & Alderholt; the highest is Ferndown North (54.9 per 1,000) and the lowest Cranborne Chase (24.5).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Cranborne & Alderholt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verwood | 508 | 35.5 | +22% |
| St Leonards & St Ives | 319 | 39.2 | +35% |
| West Moors & Three Legged Cross | 300 | 35.8 | +23% |
| Ferndown North | 448 | 54.9 | +88% |
| Ferndown South | 368 | 43.9 | +51% |
| Colehill & Wimborne Minster East | 180 | 25.2 | -13% |
| West Parley | 144 | 29.4 | +1% |
| Cranborne Chase | 128 | 24.5 | -16% |
The 10 locations below account for 44% of the crime recorded in Cranborne & Alderholt over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Kestrel Way” (11).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Kestrel Way | 11 |
| On or near Churchill Close | 8 |
| On or near Batterley Drove | 7 |
| On or near Sandleheath Road | 7 |
| On or near Station Yard | 7 |
| On or near Apple Tree Road | 5 |
| On or near B3078 | 5 |
| On or near Park/Open Space | 5 |
| On or near Parsonage Lane | 5 |
| On or near Ringwood Road | 5 |
Of the 115 crimes in Cranborne & Alderholt with a recorded outcome, 53% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales. The 32 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 61 | 53.0% | 35.3% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 36 | 31.3% | 34.5% |
| Under investigation | 9 | 7.8% | 11.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 3 | 2.6% | 0.6% |
| Local resolution | 2 | 1.7% | 3.1% |
| Status update unavailable | 2 | 1.7% | 4.7% |
| Court result unavailable | 1 | 0.9% | 2.5% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.9% | 0.5% |
Cranborne & Alderholt has an estimated population of 5,045 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer households without a car (4.9%, against 23.3%), less social housing (8.3%, against 17.1%) and an older population (27%, against 19%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Cranborne & Alderholt average decile 6.1 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Cranborne & Alderholt | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 15.1% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 27.4% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 58.8% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 1.7% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 28.4% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.7% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 33.1% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 14.2% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 4.9% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 73.6% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 8.3% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 18.1% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.1 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Cranborne & Alderholt a safe place to live?
Cranborne & Alderholt recorded 29.1 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 3,791st of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Cranborne & Alderholt?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 38 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (32).
Is crime in Cranborne & Alderholt going up or down?
Recorded crime in Cranborne & Alderholt was down 16% on the year before: 147 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 176 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Cranborne & Alderholt?
About 5,045 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 27% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Cranborne & Alderholt?
Cranborne & Alderholt 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.