Crime in Portland: statistics, rates and trends
912 crimes were recorded in Portland in the 12 months to August 2026, 66.3 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 12% on the year before.
Table of Contents
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (444), anti-social behaviour (194) and criminal damage and arson (70) made up 78% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 2,369th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lower half.
| Measure | Portland | Dorset | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 912 | 21,072 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 66.3 | 54.0 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -12% | -4% | -1% |
| Population | 13,747 | 389,947 | 58,127,638 |
The year to August 2026 had the least recorded crime in Portland of any year here (912 crimes). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 32%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 912 | 66.3 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 1,032 | 75.1 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 1,108 | 80.6 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 951 | 69.2 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 1,170 | 85.1 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 1,221 | 88.8 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 1,225 | 89.1 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 1,157 | 84.2 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 1,348 | 98.1 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 82 |
| July 2026 | 80 |
| June 2026 | 67 |
| May 2026 | 69 |
| April 2026 | 78 |
| March 2026 | 85 |
| February 2026 | 67 |
| January 2026 | 80 |
| December 2025 | 94 |
| November 2025 | 72 |
| October 2025 | 78 |
| September 2025 | 60 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and shoplifting (79% below) and public order (52% below) were well below it. On the year before, other crime rose from 22 to 35 and other theft rose from 46 to 56, while shoplifting fell from 48 to 24 and criminal damage and arson fell from 106 to 70.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 444 | 32.3 | 34.2 | -1% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 194 | 14.1 | 15.4 | -20% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 70 | 5.1 | 6.7 | -34% |
| Other theft | 56 | 4.1 | 6.4 | +22% |
| Public order | 44 | 3.2 | 6.7 | -32% |
| Other crime | 35 | 2.5 | 2.1 | +59% |
| Shoplifting | 24 | 1.7 | 8.5 | -50% |
| Drugs | 15 | 1.1 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Burglary | 9 | 0.7 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 9 | 0.7 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 7 | 0.5 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Robbery | 3 | 0.2 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 2 | 0.1 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
3 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Portland; the highest is Melcombe Regis (383.1 per 1,000) and the lowest Winterborne & Broadmayne (23.1).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Portland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rodwell & Wyke | 745 | 53.6 | -19% |
| Westham | 971 | 100.2 | +51% |
| Melcombe Regis | 1,884 | 383.1 | +477% |
| Chickerell | 571 | 63.1 | -5% |
| Radipole | 711 | 84.5 | +27% |
| Littlemoor & Preston | 636 | 56.9 | -14% |
| Upwey & Broadwey | 228 | 60.4 | -9% |
| Winterborne & Broadmayne | 97 | 23.1 | -65% |
The 10 locations below account for 36% of the crime recorded in Portland over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Withies Croft” (90).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Withies Croft | 90 |
| On or near Parking Area | 57 |
| On or near Supermarket | 31 |
| On or near East Weare Road | 27 |
| On or near Court Barton | 25 |
| On or near Liberty Road | 20 |
| On or near Prison | 20 |
| On or near Easton Square | 19 |
| On or near Park Road | 19 |
| On or near Blindmere Road | 17 |
Of the 718 crimes in Portland 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 194 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 293 | 40.8% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 170 | 23.7% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 90 | 12.5% | 11.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 39 | 5.4% | 4.7% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 33 | 4.6% | 1.3% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 29 | 4.0% | 5.2% |
| Court result unavailable | 17 | 2.4% | 2.5% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 13 | 1.8% | 0.5% |
| Local resolution | 12 | 1.7% | 3.1% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 9 | 1.3% | 0.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 9 | 1.3% | 0.6% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 4 | 0.6% | 0.3% |
Portland has an estimated population of 13,747 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer students (4.3%, against 7.9%), fewer residents with Level 4 qualifications or above (24%, against 34%) and less social housing (13%, against 17%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Portland average decile 4.0 (1 = most deprived), more deprived than average.
| Measure | Portland | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 15.4% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 23.4% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 51.3% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.9% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 25.9% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.3% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 24.0% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 17.2% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 19.8% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 66.0% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 12.9% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 21.1% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 4.0 | 5.5 (England) |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 12.4% | 10.1% (England) |
Is Portland a safe place to live?
Portland recorded 66.3 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 2,369th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Portland?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 444 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (194).
Is crime in Portland going up or down?
Recorded crime in Portland was down 12% on the year before: 912 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 1,032 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Portland?
About 13,747 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 23% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Portland?
Portland 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.