Crime in Dorchester West: statistics, rates and trends
735 crimes were recorded in Dorchester West in the 12 months to August 2026, 101.7 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 7% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Dorchester West at a glance
- Crime trends in Dorchester West
- Types of crime in Dorchester West
- Dorchester West compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Dorchester West
- What happened after crimes were reported in Dorchester West
- Demographics of Dorchester West
- Questions about crime in Dorchester West
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (238), anti-social behaviour (176) and shoplifting (133) made up 74% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 1,192nd of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the upper half.
| Measure | Dorchester West | Dorset | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 735 | 21,072 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 101.7 | 54.0 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -7% | -4% | -1% |
| Population | 7,225 | 389,947 | 58,127,638 |
The year to August 2026 had the least recorded crime in Dorchester West of any year here (735 crimes). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 35%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 735 | 101.7 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 791 | 109.5 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 906 | 125.4 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 961 | 133.0 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 874 | 121.0 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 778 | 107.7 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 887 | 122.8 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 1,030 | 142.6 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 1,129 | 156.3 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 72 |
| July 2026 | 63 |
| June 2026 | 50 |
| May 2026 | 74 |
| April 2026 | 66 |
| March 2026 | 71 |
| February 2026 | 50 |
| January 2026 | 43 |
| December 2025 | 44 |
| November 2025 | 78 |
| October 2025 | 73 |
| September 2025 | 51 |
Compared with England and Wales, Dorchester West recorded notably more shoplifting (2.2 times the national rate) and anti-social behaviour (59% above the national rate), and notably less public order (31% below) and other theft (27% below). On the year before, anti-social behaviour rose from 148 to 176, while vehicle crime fell from 46 to 27 and public order fell from 47 to 33.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 238 | 32.9 | 34.2 | -1% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 176 | 24.4 | 15.4 | +19% |
| Shoplifting | 133 | 18.4 | 8.5 | -8% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 52 | 7.2 | 6.7 | +4% |
| Other theft | 34 | 4.7 | 6.4 | -29% |
| Public order | 33 | 4.6 | 6.7 | -30% |
| Vehicle crime | 27 | 3.7 | 5.0 | -41% |
| Burglary | 13 | 1.8 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Drugs | 12 | 1.7 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Other crime | 5 | 0.7 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 5 | 0.7 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Robbery | 4 | 0.6 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 3 | 0.4 | 0.8 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
Dorchester West has a higher crime rate than all 8 of its nearest neighbourhoods.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Dorchester West |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dorchester East | 466 | 50.4 | -50% |
| Dorchester Poundbury | 430 | 70.0 | -31% |
| Winterborne & Broadmayne | 97 | 23.1 | -77% |
| Charminster St Mary's | 166 | 21.1 | -79% |
| Littlemoor & Preston | 636 | 56.9 | -44% |
| Upwey & Broadwey | 228 | 60.4 | -41% |
| Crossways | 158 | 38.2 | -62% |
| Radipole | 711 | 84.5 | -17% |
The 10 locations below account for 52% of the crime recorded in Dorchester West over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Supermarket” (69).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 69 |
| On or near Dorchester West | 52 |
| On or near Parking Area | 52 |
| On or near High West Street | 43 |
| On or near Hospital | 42 |
| On or near New Street | 35 |
| On or near Alexandra Terrace | 32 |
| On or near Hawthorn Close | 20 |
| On or near Margaret Place | 20 |
| On or near South Street | 20 |
Of the 559 crimes in Dorchester West with a recorded outcome, 31% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 12% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 176 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 179 | 32.0% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 172 | 30.8% | 35.3% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 68 | 12.2% | 5.2% |
| Under investigation | 51 | 9.1% | 11.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 24 | 4.3% | 4.7% |
| Local resolution | 18 | 3.2% | 3.1% |
| Court result unavailable | 16 | 2.9% | 2.5% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 12 | 2.1% | 0.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 11 | 2.0% | 0.6% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 4 | 0.7% | 1.3% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.5% | 0.3% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.2% | 0.3% |
Dorchester West has an estimated population of 7,225 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has an older population (28%, against 19%), more retired residents (31%, against 22%) and fewer students (4.7%, against 7.9%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Dorchester West average decile 6.9 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.
| Measure | Dorchester West | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 15.0% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 28.5% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 55.3% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.1% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 30.8% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.7% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 35.8% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 15.0% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 24.2% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 65.9% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 13.9% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 20.2% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.9 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Dorchester West a safe place to live?
Dorchester West recorded 101.7 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 1,192nd of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were shoplifting and anti-social behaviour.
What is the most common crime in Dorchester West?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 238 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (176).
Is crime in Dorchester West going up or down?
Recorded crime in Dorchester West was down 7% on the year before: 735 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 791 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Dorchester West?
About 7,225 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 28% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Dorchester West?
Dorchester West 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.