Crime in Dorchester Poundbury: statistics, rates and trends
430 crimes were recorded in Dorchester Poundbury in the 12 months to August 2026, 70.0 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 13% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Dorchester Poundbury at a glance
- Crime trends in Dorchester Poundbury
- Types of crime in Dorchester Poundbury
- Dorchester Poundbury compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Dorchester Poundbury
- What happened after crimes were reported in Dorchester Poundbury
- Demographics of Dorchester Poundbury
- Questions about crime in Dorchester Poundbury
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (153), anti-social behaviour (131) and criminal damage and arson (27) made up 72% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 2,231st of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lower half.
| Measure | Dorchester Poundbury | Dorset | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 430 | 21,072 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 70.0 | 54.0 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +13% | -4% | -1% |
| Population | 6,142 | 389,947 | 58,127,638 |
The year to August 2026 had the most recorded crime in Dorchester Poundbury of any year here (430 crimes). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it rose 11%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 430 | 70.0 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 382 | 62.2 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 390 | 63.5 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 334 | 54.4 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 426 | 69.4 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 395 | 64.3 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 364 | 59.3 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 350 | 57.0 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 387 | 63.0 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 41 |
| July 2026 | 42 |
| June 2026 | 38 |
| May 2026 | 40 |
| April 2026 | 30 |
| March 2026 | 36 |
| February 2026 | 25 |
| January 2026 | 42 |
| December 2025 | 24 |
| November 2025 | 30 |
| October 2025 | 48 |
| September 2025 | 34 |
Compared with England and Wales, Dorchester Poundbury recorded notably more anti-social behaviour (39% above the national rate), and notably less shoplifting (54% below) and criminal damage and arson (35% below). On the year before, anti-social behaviour rose from 102 to 131 and violence and sexual offences rose from 121 to 153.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 153 | 24.9 | 34.2 | +26% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 131 | 21.3 | 15.4 | +28% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 27 | 4.4 | 6.7 | -4% |
| Other theft | 26 | 4.2 | 6.4 | -10% |
| Shoplifting | 24 | 3.9 | 8.5 | +14% |
| Public order | 19 | 3.1 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 15 | 2.4 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Burglary | 10 | 1.6 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Drugs | 9 | 1.5 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 5 | 0.8 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Other crime | 5 | 0.8 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 3 | 0.5 | 1.7 | n/a |
| Robbery | 2 | 0.3 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 1 | 0.2 | 1.0 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
2 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Dorchester Poundbury; the highest is Dorchester West (101.7 per 1,000) and the lowest Charminster St Mary's (21.1).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Dorchester Poundbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dorchester West | 735 | 101.7 | +45% |
| Dorchester East | 466 | 50.4 | -28% |
| Winterborne & Broadmayne | 97 | 23.1 | -67% |
| Charminster St Mary's | 166 | 21.1 | -70% |
| Upwey & Broadwey | 228 | 60.4 | -14% |
| Littlemoor & Preston | 636 | 56.9 | -19% |
| Crossways | 158 | 38.2 | -45% |
| Radipole | 711 | 84.5 | +21% |
The 10 locations below account for 35% of the crime recorded in Dorchester Poundbury over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Cambridge Walk” (35).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Cambridge Walk | 35 |
| On or near Springham Walk | 25 |
| On or near Vickery Court | 15 |
| On or near Merrivale | 14 |
| On or near Elizabeth Place | 13 |
| On or near Supermarket | 12 |
| On or near Windsor Road | 11 |
| On or near Evershot Walk | 9 |
| On or near Coningsby Place | 8 |
| On or near Monnington Lane | 8 |
Of the 299 crimes in Dorchester Poundbury with a recorded outcome, 26% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 4.3% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 131 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 117 | 39.1% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 79 | 26.4% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 45 | 15.1% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 13 | 4.3% | 5.2% |
| Court result unavailable | 10 | 3.3% | 2.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 9 | 3.0% | 1.3% |
| Local resolution | 9 | 3.0% | 3.1% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 6 | 2.0% | 0.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 5 | 1.7% | 0.6% |
| Status update unavailable | 4 | 1.3% | 4.7% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.3% | 0.3% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.3% | 0.3% |
Dorchester Poundbury has an estimated population of 6,142 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has more retired residents (33%, against 22%), an older population (29%, against 19%) and more social housing (23%, against 17%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Dorchester Poundbury average decile 6.0 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Dorchester Poundbury | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 16.4% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 29.0% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 50.0% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.8% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 33.3% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 5.1% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 37.9% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 11.8% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 18.6% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 60.7% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 23.3% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 16.0% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.0 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Dorchester Poundbury a safe place to live?
Dorchester Poundbury recorded 70.0 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 2,231st of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were anti-social behaviour.
What is the most common crime in Dorchester Poundbury?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 153 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (131).
Is crime in Dorchester Poundbury going up or down?
Recorded crime in Dorchester Poundbury was up 13% on the year before: 430 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 382 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Dorchester Poundbury?
About 6,142 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 29% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Dorchester Poundbury?
Dorchester Poundbury 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.