Crime in Wareham, Dorset: statistics, rates and trends
574 crimes were recorded in Wareham, Dorset in the 12 months to August 2026, 54.8 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 2% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Wareham, Dorset at a glance
- Crime trends in Wareham, Dorset
- Types of crime in Wareham, Dorset
- Wareham, Dorset compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Wareham, Dorset
- What happened after crimes were reported in Wareham, Dorset
- Demographics of Wareham, Dorset
- Questions about crime in Wareham, Dorset
- About this data
Crime map
Anti-social behaviour (172), violence and sexual offences (171) and shoplifting (46) made up 68% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 2,836th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lower half.
| Measure | Wareham, Dorset | Dorset | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 574 | 21,072 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 54.8 | 54.0 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -2% | -4% | -1% |
| Population | 10,467 | 389,947 | 58,127,638 |
The year to August 2026 had the least recorded crime in Wareham, Dorset of any year here (574 crimes). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 26%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 574 | 54.8 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 586 | 56.0 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 636 | 60.8 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 596 | 56.9 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 634 | 60.6 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 829 | 79.2 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 777 | 74.2 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 809 | 77.3 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 773 | 73.9 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 49 |
| July 2026 | 65 |
| June 2026 | 46 |
| May 2026 | 56 |
| April 2026 | 71 |
| March 2026 | 68 |
| February 2026 | 44 |
| January 2026 | 27 |
| December 2025 | 31 |
| November 2025 | 31 |
| October 2025 | 40 |
| September 2025 | 46 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and public order (61% below) and violence and sexual offences (52% below) were well below it. On the year before, anti-social behaviour rose from 110 to 172 and shoplifting rose from 33 to 46, while criminal damage and arson fell from 70 to 43 and other theft fell from 62 to 45.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anti-social behaviour | 172 | 16.4 | 15.4 | +56% |
| Violence and sexual offences | 171 | 16.3 | 34.2 | -1% |
| Shoplifting | 46 | 4.4 | 8.5 | +39% |
| Other theft | 45 | 4.3 | 6.4 | -27% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 43 | 4.1 | 6.7 | -39% |
| Burglary | 29 | 2.8 | 3.6 | -12% |
| Public order | 27 | 2.6 | 6.7 | -25% |
| Vehicle crime | 17 | 1.6 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Drugs | 13 | 1.2 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 4 | 0.4 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Other crime | 3 | 0.3 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Robbery | 2 | 0.2 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 1 | 0.1 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 1 | 0.1 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
1 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Wareham, Dorset; the highest is Wimborne Minster, Dorset (81.2 per 1,000) and the lowest Puddletown & Lower Winterborne (25.9).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Wareham, Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lytchett Matravers & Upton | 495 | 38.3 | -30% |
| West Purbeck | 551 | 50.7 | -8% |
| South East Purbeck | 120 | 36.9 | -33% |
| Corfe Mullen | 393 | 36.8 | -33% |
| Swanage | 477 | 50.7 | -8% |
| Wimborne Minster | 906 | 81.2 | +48% |
| Puddletown & Lower Winterborne | 172 | 25.9 | -53% |
| Stour & Allen Vale | 189 | 36.9 | -33% |
The 10 locations below account for 41% of the crime recorded in Wareham, Dorset over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Supermarket” (62).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 62 |
| On or near Fir Avenue | 34 |
| On or near Parking Area | 30 |
| On or near Wareham Road | 28 |
| On or near Christmas Close | 17 |
| On or near Pride Place | 17 |
| On or near North Causeway | 15 |
| On or near Admirals Way | 12 |
| On or near Hibbs Close | 12 |
| On or near Northport Drive | 9 |
Of the 402 crimes in Wareham, Dorset with a recorded outcome, 38% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 7.5% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 172 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 152 | 37.8% | 35.3% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 128 | 31.8% | 34.5% |
| Under investigation | 33 | 8.2% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 30 | 7.5% | 5.2% |
| Local resolution | 15 | 3.7% | 3.1% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 14 | 3.5% | 1.3% |
| Status update unavailable | 14 | 3.5% | 4.7% |
| Offender given a caution | 7 | 1.7% | 0.6% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 6 | 1.5% | 0.5% |
| Court result unavailable | 2 | 0.5% | 2.5% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.2% | 0.3% |
Wareham, Dorset has an estimated population of 10,467 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has an older population (34%, against 19%), more retired residents (35%, against 22%) and fewer students (3.8%, against 7.9%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Wareham, Dorset average decile 6.1 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Wareham, Dorset | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 14.1% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 33.6% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 51.2% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.2% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 35.3% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 3.8% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 30.5% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 17.8% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 14.4% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 70.8% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 14.2% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 14.9% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.1 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Wareham, Dorset a safe place to live?
Wareham, Dorset recorded 54.8 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 2,836th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Wareham, Dorset?
Anti-social behaviour was the most common category, with 172 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by violence and sexual offences (171).
Is crime in Wareham, Dorset going up or down?
Recorded crime in Wareham, Dorset was down 2% on the year before: 574 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 586 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Wareham, Dorset?
About 10,467 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 34% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Wareham, Dorset?
Wareham, Dorset 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.