Crime in Lyme & Charmouth: statistics, rates and trends
209 crimes were recorded in Lyme & Charmouth in the 12 months to August 2026, 39.7 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 35% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Lyme & Charmouth at a glance
- Crime trends in Lyme & Charmouth
- Types of crime in Lyme & Charmouth
- Lyme & Charmouth compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Lyme & Charmouth
- What happened after crimes were reported in Lyme & Charmouth
- Demographics of Lyme & Charmouth
- Questions about crime in Lyme & Charmouth
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (89), anti-social behaviour (51) and other theft (15) made up 74% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 3,460th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lowest quarter.
| Measure | Lyme & Charmouth | Dorset | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 209 | 21,072 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 39.7 | 54.0 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -35% | -4% | -1% |
| Population | 5,263 | 389,947 | 58,127,638 |
The year to August 2026 had the least recorded crime in Lyme & Charmouth of any year here (209 crimes). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 44%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 209 | 39.7 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 320 | 60.8 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 301 | 57.2 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 324 | 61.6 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 346 | 65.7 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 340 | 64.6 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 368 | 69.9 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 307 | 58.3 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 374 | 71.1 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 24 |
| July 2026 | 26 |
| June 2026 | 15 |
| May 2026 | 14 |
| April 2026 | 19 |
| March 2026 | 18 |
| February 2026 | 20 |
| January 2026 | 17 |
| December 2025 | 17 |
| November 2025 | 14 |
| October 2025 | 11 |
| September 2025 | 14 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and violence and sexual offences (51% below) and anti-social behaviour (37% below) were well below it. On the year before, violence and sexual offences fell from 125 to 89 and anti-social behaviour fell from 67 to 51.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 89 | 16.9 | 34.2 | -29% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 51 | 9.7 | 15.4 | -24% |
| Other theft | 15 | 2.9 | 6.4 | n/a |
| Criminal damage and arson | 14 | 2.7 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Public order | 11 | 2.1 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Burglary | 9 | 1.7 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Shoplifting | 8 | 1.5 | 8.5 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 7 | 1.3 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Drugs | 3 | 0.6 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 1 | 0.2 | 0.8 | 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 Lyme & Charmouth; the highest is Bridport, Dorset (70.3 per 1,000) and the lowest Marshwood Vale (20.8).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Lyme & Charmouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marshwood Vale | 74 | 20.8 | -48% |
| Bridport | 975 | 70.3 | +77% |
| Beaminster | 129 | 29.0 | -27% |
| Eggardon | 186 | 30.5 | -23% |
| Chesil Bank | 130 | 33.6 | -15% |
| Yetminster | 144 | 24.4 | -39% |
| Charminster St Mary's | 166 | 21.1 | -47% |
| Dorchester Poundbury | 430 | 70.0 | +76% |
The 10 locations below account for 42% of the crime recorded in Lyme & Charmouth over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Ozone Terrace” (17).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Ozone Terrace | 17 |
| On or near Parking Area | 14 |
| On or near Supermarket | 10 |
| On or near North Avenue | 9 |
| On or near Kingsway | 8 |
| On or near Axminster Road | 7 |
| On or near Bridge Road | 7 |
| On or near Theatre/Concert Hall | 6 |
| On or near Acorn Close | 5 |
| On or near Garmans Field | 5 |
Of the 158 crimes in Lyme & Charmouth with a recorded outcome, 33% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 2.5% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 51 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 58 | 36.7% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 52 | 32.9% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 23 | 14.6% | 11.5% |
| Local resolution | 8 | 5.1% | 3.1% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 5 | 3.2% | 0.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 4 | 2.5% | 5.2% |
| Status update unavailable | 3 | 1.9% | 4.7% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 2 | 1.3% | 1.3% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 2 | 1.3% | 0.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 1 | 0.6% | 0.6% |
Lyme & Charmouth has an estimated population of 5,263 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has an older population (42%, against 19%), more retired residents (44%, against 22%) and fewer students (3.8%, against 7.9%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Lyme & Charmouth average decile 5.8 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Lyme & Charmouth | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 10.4% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 42.0% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 42.1% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.0% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 44.3% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 3.8% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 37.9% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 14.2% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 15.3% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 72.0% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 15.8% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 12.2% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.8 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Lyme & Charmouth a safe place to live?
Lyme & Charmouth recorded 39.7 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 3,460th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Lyme & Charmouth?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 89 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (51).
Is crime in Lyme & Charmouth going up or down?
Recorded crime in Lyme & Charmouth was down 35% on the year before: 209 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 320 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Lyme & Charmouth?
About 5,263 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 42% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Lyme & Charmouth?
Lyme & Charmouth 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.