Crime in Newtown & Heatherlands: statistics, rates and trends
1,433 crimes were recorded in Newtown & Heatherlands in the 12 months to August 2026, 78.5 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 6% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Newtown & Heatherlands at a glance
- Crime trends in Newtown & Heatherlands
- Types of crime in Newtown & Heatherlands
- Newtown & Heatherlands compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Newtown & Heatherlands
- What happened after crimes were reported in Newtown & Heatherlands
- Demographics of Newtown & Heatherlands
- Questions about crime in Newtown & Heatherlands
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (438), anti-social behaviour (374) and shoplifting (139) made up 66% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 1,895th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the upper half.
| Measure | Newtown & Heatherlands | Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 1,433 | 35,930 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 78.5 | 87.9 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +6% | -1% | -1% |
| Population | 18,247 | 408,967 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Newtown & Heatherlands peaked in the year to August 2021 (2,156 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2025 (1,352). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 29%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 1,433 | 78.5 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 1,352 | 74.1 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 1,548 | 84.8 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 1,678 | 92.0 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 1,909 | 104.6 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 2,156 | 118.2 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 2,129 | 116.7 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 2,097 | 114.9 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 2,016 | 110.5 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 148 |
| July 2026 | 140 |
| June 2026 | 139 |
| May 2026 | 134 |
| April 2026 | 116 |
| March 2026 | 106 |
| February 2026 | 105 |
| January 2026 | 114 |
| December 2025 | 107 |
| November 2025 | 99 |
| October 2025 | 110 |
| September 2025 | 115 |
Compared with England and Wales, Newtown & Heatherlands recorded notably more anti-social behaviour (33% above the national rate), and notably less drugs (65% below) and public order (48% below). On the year before, anti-social behaviour rose from 257 to 374 and burglary rose from 40 to 50.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 438 | 24.0 | 34.2 | -12% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 374 | 20.5 | 15.4 | +46% |
| Shoplifting | 139 | 7.6 | 8.5 | +3% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 117 | 6.4 | 6.7 | -6% |
| Vehicle crime | 96 | 5.3 | 5.0 | +7% |
| Other theft | 91 | 5.0 | 6.4 | +21% |
| Public order | 63 | 3.5 | 6.7 | -3% |
| Burglary | 50 | 2.7 | 3.6 | +25% |
| Drugs | 21 | 1.2 | 3.3 | -5% |
| Robbery | 16 | 0.9 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 9 | 0.5 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 9 | 0.5 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Other crime | 6 | 0.3 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 4 | 0.2 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
3 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Newtown & Heatherlands; the highest is Poole Town (179.0 per 1,000) and the lowest Oakdale, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (40.0).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Newtown & Heatherlands |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alderney & Bourne Valley | 1,326 | 79.0 | +1% |
| Parkstone | 690 | 57.0 | -27% |
| Penn Hill | 611 | 51.1 | -35% |
| Oakdale | 424 | 40.0 | -49% |
| Canford Heath | 830 | 58.9 | -25% |
| Canford Cliffs | 682 | 82.4 | +5% |
| Poole Town | 2,454 | 179.0 | +128% |
| Talbot & Branksome Woods | 990 | 68.4 | -13% |
The 10 locations below account for 37% of the crime recorded in Newtown & Heatherlands over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Hillcrest Road” (93).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Hillcrest Road | 93 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 88 |
| On or near Theme/Adventure Park | 63 |
| On or near Supermarket | 55 |
| On or near Yarrow Road | 53 |
| On or near Further/Higher Educational Building | 47 |
| On or near Sports/Recreation Area | 40 |
| On or near Ringwood Road | 36 |
| On or near Douglas Gardens | 28 |
| On or near Chubbs Mews | 27 |
Of the 1,059 crimes in Newtown & Heatherlands with a recorded outcome, 38% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 3.6% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 374 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 401 | 37.9% | 35.3% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 361 | 34.1% | 34.5% |
| Under investigation | 128 | 12.1% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 38 | 3.6% | 5.2% |
| Status update unavailable | 33 | 3.1% | 4.7% |
| Court result unavailable | 23 | 2.2% | 2.5% |
| Local resolution | 22 | 2.1% | 3.1% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 21 | 2.0% | 0.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 19 | 1.8% | 1.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 8 | 0.8% | 0.6% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.3% | 0.3% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.2% | 0.3% |
Newtown & Heatherlands has an estimated population of 18,247 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer students (5.1%, against 7.9%), less social housing (13%, against 17%) and fewer residents with Level 4 qualifications or above (27%, against 34%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Newtown & Heatherlands average decile 5.0 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Newtown & Heatherlands | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 19.3% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 16.8% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 62.5% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 3.1% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 19.6% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 5.1% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 26.8% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 18.6% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 18.9% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 65.0% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 12.9% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 21.9% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.0 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Newtown & Heatherlands a safe place to live?
Newtown & Heatherlands recorded 78.5 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 1,895th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were anti-social behaviour.
What is the most common crime in Newtown & Heatherlands?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 438 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (374).
Is crime in Newtown & Heatherlands going up or down?
Recorded crime in Newtown & Heatherlands was up 6% on the year before: 1,433 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 1,352 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Newtown & Heatherlands?
About 18,247 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 17% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Newtown & Heatherlands?
Newtown & Heatherlands 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.