Crime in Marshwood Vale: statistics, rates and trends
74 crimes were recorded in Marshwood Vale in the 12 months to August 2026, 20.8 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 6% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Marshwood Vale at a glance
- Crime trends in Marshwood Vale
- Types of crime in Marshwood Vale
- Marshwood Vale compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Marshwood Vale
- What happened after crimes were reported in Marshwood Vale
- Demographics of Marshwood Vale
- Questions about crime in Marshwood Vale
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (38), anti-social behaviour (10), criminal damage and arson (6), other theft (6) and vehicle crime (6) made up 89% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 3,904th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lowest tenth.
| Measure | Marshwood Vale | Dorset | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 74 | 21,072 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 20.8 | 54.0 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -6% | -4% | -1% |
| Population | 3,565 | 389,947 | 58,127,638 |
The year to August 2026 had the least recorded crime in Marshwood Vale of any year here (74 crimes). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 33%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 74 | 20.8 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 79 | 22.2 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 80 | 22.4 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 100 | 28.1 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 107 | 30.0 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 107 | 30.0 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 115 | 32.3 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 145 | 40.7 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 110 | 30.9 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 5 |
| July 2026 | 8 |
| June 2026 | 6 |
| May 2026 | 4 |
| April 2026 | 6 |
| March 2026 | 1 |
| February 2026 | 5 |
| January 2026 | 5 |
| December 2025 | 3 |
| November 2025 | 15 |
| October 2025 | 12 |
| September 2025 | 4 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and violence and sexual offences (69% below) was well below it. On the year before, violence and sexual offences rose from 33 to 38.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 38 | 10.7 | 34.2 | +15% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 10 | 2.8 | 15.4 | n/a |
| Criminal damage and arson | 6 | 1.7 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Other theft | 6 | 1.7 | 6.4 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 6 | 1.7 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Burglary | 4 | 1.1 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Other crime | 2 | 0.6 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 1 | 0.3 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Public order | 1 | 0.3 | 6.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
Every one of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods has a higher crime rate than Marshwood Vale.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Marshwood Vale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beaminster | 129 | 29.0 | +40% |
| Bridport | 975 | 70.3 | +239% |
| Lyme & Charmouth | 209 | 39.7 | +91% |
| Eggardon | 186 | 30.5 | +47% |
| Chesil Bank | 130 | 33.6 | +62% |
| Yetminster | 144 | 24.4 | +18% |
| Sherborne Rural | 154 | 37.6 | +81% |
| Charminster St Mary's | 166 | 21.1 | +2% |
The 10 locations below account for 51% of the crime recorded in Marshwood Vale over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Ryall Road” (6).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Ryall Road | 6 |
| On or near Gribb View | 5 |
| On or near Back Lane | 4 |
| On or near Trusthams | 4 |
| On or near Yonder Hill | 4 |
| On or near Applefield Road | 3 |
| On or near Blagdon Lane | 3 |
| On or near Holly Lane | 3 |
| On or near Marshalsea Estate | 3 |
| On or near Maudlin Lane | 3 |
The latest recorded outcomes for the 64 crimes in Marshwood Vale with one. The 10 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 23 | 35.9% | 35.3% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 22 | 34.4% | 34.5% |
| Under investigation | 7 | 10.9% | 11.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 5 | 7.8% | 4.7% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 4 | 6.2% | 1.3% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 1 | 1.6% | 5.2% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 1 | 1.6% | 0.5% |
| Local resolution | 1 | 1.6% | 3.1% |
Marshwood Vale has an estimated population of 3,565 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has an older population (39%, against 19%), fewer households without a car (5.0%, against 23.3%) and more retired residents (38%, against 22%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Marshwood Vale average decile 4.0 (1 = most deprived), more deprived than average.
| Measure | Marshwood Vale | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 11.3% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 38.8% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 48.9% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 1.8% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 37.8% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 3.0% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 34.7% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 15.8% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 5.0% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 76.8% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 8.6% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 14.5% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 4.0 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Marshwood Vale a safe place to live?
Marshwood Vale recorded 20.8 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 3,904th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Marshwood Vale?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 38 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (10).
Is crime in Marshwood Vale going up or down?
Recorded crime in Marshwood Vale was down 6% on the year before: 74 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 79 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Marshwood Vale?
About 3,565 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 39% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Marshwood Vale?
Marshwood Vale 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.