Crime in Crossways, Dorset: statistics, rates and trends
158 crimes were recorded in Crossways, Dorset in the 12 months to August 2026, 38.2 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 22% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Crossways, Dorset at a glance
- Crime trends in Crossways, Dorset
- Types of crime in Crossways, Dorset
- Crossways, Dorset compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Crossways, Dorset
- What happened after crimes were reported in Crossways, Dorset
- Demographics of Crossways, Dorset
- Questions about crime in Crossways, Dorset
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (65), anti-social behaviour (25) and other theft (24) made up 72% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 3,501st of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lowest quarter.
| Measure | Crossways, Dorset | Dorset | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 158 | 21,072 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 38.2 | 54.0 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +22% | -4% | -1% |
| Population | 4,131 | 389,947 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Crossways, Dorset peaked in the year to August 2021 (243 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2025 (129). 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 | 158 | 38.2 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 129 | 31.2 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 154 | 37.3 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 201 | 48.7 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 154 | 37.3 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 243 | 58.8 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 229 | 55.4 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 182 | 44.1 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 201 | 48.7 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 12 |
| July 2026 | 17 |
| June 2026 | 10 |
| May 2026 | 16 |
| April 2026 | 16 |
| March 2026 | 18 |
| February 2026 | 12 |
| January 2026 | 13 |
| December 2025 | 12 |
| November 2025 | 8 |
| October 2025 | 11 |
| September 2025 | 13 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and anti-social behaviour (61% below) and violence and sexual offences (54% below) were well below it. On the year before, violence and sexual offences rose from 48 to 65.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 65 | 15.7 | 34.2 | +35% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 25 | 6.1 | 15.4 | -11% |
| Other theft | 24 | 5.8 | 6.4 | n/a |
| Criminal damage and arson | 11 | 2.7 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Burglary | 10 | 2.4 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 7 | 1.7 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Public order | 6 | 1.5 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Other crime | 4 | 1.0 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Drugs | 3 | 0.7 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Robbery | 1 | 0.2 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Shoplifting | 1 | 0.2 | 8.5 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 1 | 0.2 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
6 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Crossways, Dorset; the highest is Dorchester West (101.7 per 1,000) and the lowest Winterborne & Broadmayne (23.1).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Crossways, Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Purbeck | 551 | 50.7 | +33% |
| Dorchester East | 466 | 50.4 | +32% |
| Winterborne & Broadmayne | 97 | 23.1 | -40% |
| Dorchester West | 735 | 101.7 | +166% |
| Littlemoor & Preston | 636 | 56.9 | +49% |
| Dorchester Poundbury | 430 | 70.0 | +83% |
| Puddletown & Lower Winterborne | 172 | 25.9 | -32% |
| Upwey & Broadwey | 228 | 60.4 | +58% |
The 10 locations below account for 55% of the crime recorded in Crossways, Dorset over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “The Rise” (21).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near The Rise | 21 |
| On or near Empool Close | 10 |
| On or near Combe Way | 9 |
| On or near Heathland Close | 8 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 8 |
| On or near Mills Road | 7 |
| On or near Blacksmiths Lane | 6 |
| On or near Moreton Road | 6 |
| On or near Polly'S Close | 6 |
| On or near The Hedgerows | 6 |
Of the 133 crimes in Crossways, Dorset with a recorded outcome, 32% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 6.8% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 25 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 47 | 35.3% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 42 | 31.6% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 15 | 11.3% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 9 | 6.8% | 5.2% |
| Status update unavailable | 7 | 5.3% | 4.7% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 5 | 3.8% | 0.5% |
| Local resolution | 4 | 3.0% | 3.1% |
| Offender given a caution | 2 | 1.5% | 0.6% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 1 | 0.8% | 1.3% |
| Court result unavailable | 1 | 0.8% | 2.5% |
Crossways, Dorset has an estimated population of 4,131 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer households without a car (8.2%, against 23.3%), an older population (31%, against 19%) and fewer students (4.0%, against 7.9%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Crossways, Dorset average decile 6.0 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Crossways, Dorset | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 14.9% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 30.9% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 54.7% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.2% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 32.2% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.0% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 31.0% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 15.5% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 8.2% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 74.3% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 11.4% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 14.3% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.0 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Crossways, Dorset a safe place to live?
Crossways, Dorset recorded 38.2 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 3,501st of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Crossways, Dorset?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 65 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (25).
Is crime in Crossways, Dorset going up or down?
Recorded crime in Crossways, Dorset was up 22% on the year before: 158 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 129 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Crossways, Dorset?
About 4,131 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 31% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Crossways, Dorset?
Crossways, Dorset 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.