Crime in Littlemoor & Preston: statistics, rates and trends
636 crimes were recorded in Littlemoor & Preston in the 12 months to August 2026, 56.9 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 9% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- 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
- Demographics of Littlemoor & Preston
- Questions about crime in Littlemoor & Preston
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (287), anti-social behaviour (159) and criminal damage and arson (44) made up 77% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 2,739th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lower half.
| Measure | Littlemoor & Preston | Dorset | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 636 | 21,072 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 56.9 | 54.0 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -9% | -4% | -1% |
| Population | 11,186 | 389,947 | 58,127,638 |
The year to August 2026 had the least recorded crime in Littlemoor & Preston of any year here (636 crimes). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 28%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 636 | 56.9 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 700 | 62.6 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 683 | 61.1 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 715 | 63.9 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 1,049 | 93.8 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 904 | 80.8 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 994 | 88.9 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 888 | 79.4 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 881 | 78.8 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 76 |
| 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 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and shoplifting (77% below) and public order (53% below) were well below it. On the year before, other theft rose from 33 to 38, while public order fell from 52 to 35 and criminal damage and arson fell from 53 to 44.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 287 | 25.7 | 34.2 | 0% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 159 | 14.2 | 15.4 | -11% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 44 | 3.9 | 6.7 | -17% |
| Other theft | 38 | 3.4 | 6.4 | +15% |
| Public order | 35 | 3.1 | 6.7 | -33% |
| Shoplifting | 22 | 2.0 | 8.5 | -12% |
| Drugs | 11 | 1.0 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 9 | 0.8 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Burglary | 8 | 0.7 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 7 | 0.6 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Other crime | 5 | 0.4 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 4 | 0.4 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Robbery | 4 | 0.4 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 3 | 0.3 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
5 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Littlemoor & Preston; the highest is Melcombe Regis (383.1 per 1,000) and the lowest Winterborne & Broadmayne (23.1).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Littlemoor & Preston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upwey & Broadwey | 228 | 60.4 | +6% |
| Radipole | 711 | 84.5 | +49% |
| Melcombe Regis | 1,884 | 383.1 | +574% |
| Westham | 971 | 100.2 | +76% |
| Chickerell | 571 | 63.1 | +11% |
| Winterborne & Broadmayne | 97 | 23.1 | -59% |
| Rodwell & Wyke | 745 | 53.6 | -6% |
| Dorchester East | 466 | 50.4 | -11% |
The 10 locations below account for 48% of the crime recorded in Littlemoor & Preston over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Parking Area” (93).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 93 |
| On or near Canberra Crescent | 55 |
| On or near Halstock Close | 36 |
| On or near Sports/Recreation Area | 27 |
| On or near Sprague Close | 25 |
| On or near Holcombe Close | 21 |
| On or near Came Down Close | 15 |
| On or near Broadwey Close | 14 |
| On or near Bowleaze Coveway | 12 |
| On or near Pipit Close | 10 |
Of the 477 crimes in Littlemoor & Preston with a recorded outcome, 24% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 4.0% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 159 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 204 | 42.8% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 113 | 23.7% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 64 | 13.4% | 11.5% |
| Local resolution | 27 | 5.7% | 3.1% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 19 | 4.0% | 5.2% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 15 | 3.1% | 1.3% |
| Status update unavailable | 10 | 2.1% | 4.7% |
| Offender given a caution | 8 | 1.7% | 0.6% |
| Court result unavailable | 5 | 1.0% | 2.5% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 5 | 1.0% | 0.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 4 | 0.8% | 0.5% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.6% | 0.3% |
Littlemoor & Preston has an estimated population of 11,186 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has an older population (32%, against 19%), more retired residents (35%, against 22%) and fewer students (3.9%, against 7.9%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Littlemoor & Preston average decile 5.9 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Littlemoor & Preston | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 14.3% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 31.9% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 49.4% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.3% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 35.3% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 3.9% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 30.1% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 16.8% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 16.1% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 70.4% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 15.9% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 13.7% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.9 | 5.5 (England) |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 15.5% | 10.1% (England) |
Is Littlemoor & Preston a safe place to live?
Littlemoor & Preston recorded 56.9 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 2,739th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Littlemoor & Preston?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 287 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (159).
Is crime in Littlemoor & Preston going up or down?
Recorded crime in Littlemoor & Preston was down 9% on the year before: 636 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 700 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Littlemoor & Preston?
About 11,186 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 32% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Littlemoor & Preston?
Littlemoor & Preston 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.