Crime in Littlemoor & Preston: statistics, rates and trends
630 crimes were recorded in Littlemoor & Preston in the 12 months to July 2026, 56.3 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 10% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Littlemoor & Preston at a glance
- Crime trends in Littlemoor & Preston
- Types of crime in Littlemoor & Preston
- Littlemoor & Preston compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Littlemoor & Preston
- What happened after crimes were reported in Littlemoor & Preston
- Population and deprivation in Littlemoor & Preston
- Questions about crime in Littlemoor & Preston
- About this data
630 crimes were recorded in Littlemoor & Preston in the 12 months to July 2026, 56.3 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 10% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 270 reports (43% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Littlemoor & Preston has the 2,769th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Littlemoor & Preston | Dorset | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 630 | 20,740 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 56.3 | 53.2 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -10% | -6% | -1% |
| Population | 11,186 | 389,947 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Littlemoor & Preston was highest in the year to July 2022 (1,061 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (630). Over the whole period it fell 29%, 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 | 630 | 56.3 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 699 | 62.5 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 692 | 61.9 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 723 | 64.6 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 1,061 | 94.9 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 903 | 80.7 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 984 | 88.0 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 896 | 80.1 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 883 | 78.9 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 64 |
| June 2026 | 65 |
| May 2026 | 45 |
| April 2026 | 66 |
| March 2026 | 45 |
| February 2026 | 36 |
| January 2026 | 42 |
| December 2025 | 36 |
| November 2025 | 48 |
| October 2025 | 62 |
| September 2025 | 51 |
| August 2025 | 70 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Littlemoor & Preston 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 falls were in vehicle crime (-54%) and public order (-38%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 270 | 24.1 | 0.71 | -6% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 168 | 15.0 | 0.98 | -1% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 47 | 4.2 | 0.62 | -13% |
| Other theft | 35 | 3.1 | 0.49 | -3% |
| Public order | 34 | 3.0 | 0.46 | -38% |
| Shoplifting | 23 | 2.1 | 0.25 | -12% |
| Vehicle crime | 11 | 1.0 | 0.20 | -54% |
| Drugs | 10 | 0.9 | 0.27 | -17% |
| Burglary | 9 | 0.8 | 0.23 | -44% |
| Possession of weapons | 8 | 0.7 | 0.74 | -27% |
| Other crime | 5 | 0.4 | 0.21 | +67% |
| Robbery | 5 | 0.4 | 0.33 | +67% |
| Theft from the person | 4 | 0.4 | 0.21 | +300% |
| Bicycle theft | 1 | 0.1 | 0.11 | +0% |
Violence and sexual offences in Littlemoor & Preston
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Littlemoor & Preston recorded 270 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (24.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 6% on the year before. It made up 42.9% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Littlemoor & Preston
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Littlemoor & Preston recorded 168 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (15.0 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 26.7% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Littlemoor & Preston
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Littlemoor & Preston recorded 47 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 13% on the year before. It made up 7.5% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Littlemoor & Preston
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Littlemoor & Preston recorded 35 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 3% on the year before. It made up 5.6% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Littlemoor & Preston
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Littlemoor & Preston recorded 34 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 38% on the year before. It made up 5.4% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Littlemoor & Preston
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Littlemoor & Preston recorded 23 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 12% on the year before. It made up 3.7% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Littlemoor & Preston
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Littlemoor & Preston recorded 11 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 54% on the year before. It made up 1.7% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Littlemoor & Preston
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Littlemoor & Preston recorded 10 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 17% on the year before. It made up 1.6% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Littlemoor & Preston
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Littlemoor & Preston recorded 9 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 44% on the year before. It made up 1.4% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Littlemoor & Preston
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Littlemoor & Preston recorded 8 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 27% on the year before. It made up 1.3% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Littlemoor & Preston
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Littlemoor & Preston recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 67% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Littlemoor & Preston
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Littlemoor & Preston recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 67% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Littlemoor & Preston
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Littlemoor & Preston recorded 4 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and up 300% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Littlemoor & Preston
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Littlemoor & Preston 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 almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Littlemoor & Preston, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Littlemoor & Preston.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Littlemoor & Preston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upwey & Broadwey | 210 | 55.6 | -1% |
| Radipole | 708 | 84.2 | +49% |
| Melcombe Regis | 1,820 | 370.1 | +557% |
| Westham | 958 | 98.9 | +76% |
| Chickerell | 565 | 62.4 | +11% |
| Winterborne & Broadmayne | 103 | 24.5 | -57% |
| Rodwell & Wyke | 728 | 52.4 | -7% |
| Dorchester East | 490 | 53.0 | -6% |
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 Littlemoor & Preston over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 84 |
| On or near Canberra Crescent | 51 |
| On or near Halstock Close | 35 |
| On or near Sports/Recreation Area | 24 |
| On or near Sprague Close | 24 |
| On or near Holcombe Close | 19 |
| On or near Broadwey Close | 17 |
| On or near Came Down Close | 14 |
| On or near Chalbury Lodge | 10 |
| On or near Park/Open Space | 10 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Littlemoor & Preston 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 | 201 | 31.9% |
| Not recorded | 168 | 26.7% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 116 | 18.4% |
| Under investigation | 49 | 7.8% |
| Local resolution | 24 | 3.8% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 16 | 2.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 15 | 2.4% |
| Status update unavailable | 12 | 1.9% |
| Offender given a caution | 11 | 1.7% |
| Court result unavailable | 7 | 1.1% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 6 | 1.0% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.5% |
Littlemoor & Preston has an estimated population of 11,186. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Littlemoor & Preston sits in decile 5.9, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Littlemoor & Preston |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 14.3% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 53.8% |
| Aged 65 and over | 31.9% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 70.4% |
| Social rented homes | 15.9% |
| Private rented homes | 13.7% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.9 |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 15.5% |
Is Littlemoor & Preston a safe place to live?
Littlemoor & Preston recorded 56.3 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 Littlemoor & Preston?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 270 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (168).
Is crime in Littlemoor & Preston going up or down?
Recorded crime in Littlemoor & Preston was down 10% on the year before: 630 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 699 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Littlemoor & Preston?
Littlemoor & Preston 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 Littlemoor & Preston. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.