Crime in Puddletown & Lower Winterborne: statistics, rates and trends
172 crimes were recorded in Puddletown & Lower Winterborne in the 12 months to August 2026, 25.9 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 Puddletown & Lower Winterborne at a glance
- Crime trends in Puddletown & Lower Winterborne
- Types of crime in Puddletown & Lower Winterborne
- Puddletown & Lower Winterborne compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Puddletown & Lower Winterborne
- What happened after crimes were reported in Puddletown & Lower Winterborne
- Demographics of Puddletown & Lower Winterborne
- Questions about crime in Puddletown & Lower Winterborne
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (67), anti-social behaviour (41) and other theft (20) made up 74% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 3,854th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lowest tenth.
| Measure | Puddletown & Lower Winterborne | Dorset | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 172 | 21,072 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 25.9 | 54.0 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -9% | -4% | -1% |
| Population | 6,637 | 389,947 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Puddletown & Lower Winterborne peaked in the year to August 2021 (252 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2024 (168). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 9%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 172 | 25.9 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 188 | 28.3 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 168 | 25.3 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 210 | 31.6 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 205 | 30.9 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 252 | 38.0 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 212 | 31.9 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 233 | 35.1 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 190 | 28.6 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 18 |
| July 2026 | 14 |
| June 2026 | 14 |
| May 2026 | 14 |
| April 2026 | 13 |
| March 2026 | 22 |
| February 2026 | 13 |
| January 2026 | 15 |
| December 2025 | 12 |
| November 2025 | 7 |
| October 2025 | 19 |
| September 2025 | 11 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and violence and sexual offences (71% below) and anti-social behaviour (60% below) were well below it. On the year before, anti-social behaviour rose from 31 to 41.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 67 | 10.1 | 34.2 | -12% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 41 | 6.2 | 15.4 | +32% |
| Other theft | 20 | 3.0 | 6.4 | -9% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 13 | 2.0 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Burglary | 10 | 1.5 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Public order | 6 | 0.9 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 6 | 0.9 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Drugs | 3 | 0.5 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Other crime | 2 | 0.3 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 2 | 0.3 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Robbery | 1 | 0.2 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Shoplifting | 1 | 0.2 | 8.5 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
7 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Puddletown & Lower Winterborne; the highest is Dorchester West (101.7 per 1,000) and the lowest Charminster St Mary's (21.1).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Puddletown & Lower Winterborne |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Purbeck | 551 | 50.7 | +96% |
| Crossways | 158 | 38.2 | +48% |
| Winterborne North | 295 | 57.8 | +123% |
| Dorchester East | 466 | 50.4 | +94% |
| Blackmore Vale | 119 | 29.9 | +16% |
| Dorchester West | 735 | 101.7 | +293% |
| Blandford | 590 | 55.8 | +115% |
| Charminster St Mary's | 166 | 21.1 | -19% |
The 10 locations below account for 42% of the crime recorded in Puddletown & Lower Winterborne over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Damer Close” (13).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Damer Close | 13 |
| On or near Greenacres | 11 |
| On or near Parking Area | 11 |
| On or near Bladen View | 6 |
| On or near Chapel View | 6 |
| On or near Greenways | 6 |
| On or near Homefield | 6 |
| On or near White Hill | 6 |
| On or near Field'S Close | 4 |
| On or near Orchard Close | 4 |
Of the 131 crimes in Puddletown & Lower Winterborne with a recorded outcome, 35% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales. The 41 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 53 | 40.5% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 46 | 35.1% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 13 | 9.9% | 11.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 9 | 6.9% | 4.7% |
| Local resolution | 4 | 3.1% | 3.1% |
| Court result unavailable | 2 | 1.5% | 2.5% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 2 | 1.5% | 0.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 1 | 0.8% | 1.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 1 | 0.8% | 0.6% |
Puddletown & Lower Winterborne has an estimated population of 6,637 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer households without a car (6.9%, against 23.3%), an older population (30%, against 19%) and more retired residents (30%, against 22%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Puddletown & Lower Winterborne average decile 6.0 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Puddletown & Lower Winterborne | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 14.4% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 29.9% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 55.8% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.2% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 30.3% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 5.5% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 35.1% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 14.4% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 6.9% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 71.9% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 11.7% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 16.4% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.0 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Puddletown & Lower Winterborne a safe place to live?
Puddletown & Lower Winterborne recorded 25.9 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 3,854th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Puddletown & Lower Winterborne?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 67 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (41).
Is crime in Puddletown & Lower Winterborne going up or down?
Recorded crime in Puddletown & Lower Winterborne was down 9% on the year before: 172 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 188 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Puddletown & Lower Winterborne?
About 6,637 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 30% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Puddletown & Lower Winterborne?
Puddletown & Lower Winterborne 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.