Crime in West Moors & Three Legged Cross: statistics, rates and trends
300 crimes were recorded in West Moors & Three Legged Cross in the 12 months to August 2026, 35.8 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 16% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in West Moors & Three Legged Cross at a glance
- Crime trends in West Moors & Three Legged Cross
- Types of crime in West Moors & Three Legged Cross
- West Moors & Three Legged Cross compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in West Moors & Three Legged Cross
- What happened after crimes were reported in West Moors & Three Legged Cross
- Demographics of West Moors & Three Legged Cross
- Questions about crime in West Moors & Three Legged Cross
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (90), anti-social behaviour (84) and criminal damage and arson (34) made up 69% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 3,600th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lowest tenth.
| Measure | West Moors & Three Legged Cross | Dorset | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 300 | 21,072 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 35.8 | 54.0 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -16% | -4% | -1% |
| Population | 8,370 | 389,947 | 58,127,638 |
The year to August 2026 had the least recorded crime in West Moors & Three Legged Cross of any year here (300 crimes). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 22%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 300 | 35.8 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 359 | 42.9 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 359 | 42.9 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 362 | 43.2 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 361 | 43.1 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 419 | 50.1 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 391 | 46.7 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 326 | 38.9 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 387 | 46.2 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 30 |
| July 2026 | 47 |
| June 2026 | 33 |
| May 2026 | 24 |
| April 2026 | 31 |
| March 2026 | 19 |
| February 2026 | 19 |
| January 2026 | 16 |
| December 2025 | 15 |
| November 2025 | 22 |
| October 2025 | 18 |
| September 2025 | 26 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and violence and sexual offences (69% below) and shoplifting (65% below) were well below it. On the year before, criminal damage and arson rose from 29 to 34, while violence and sexual offences fell from 138 to 90 and other theft fell from 29 to 22.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 90 | 10.8 | 34.2 | -35% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 84 | 10.0 | 15.4 | -12% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 34 | 4.1 | 6.7 | +17% |
| Shoplifting | 25 | 3.0 | 8.5 | n/a |
| Other theft | 22 | 2.6 | 6.4 | -24% |
| Public order | 15 | 1.8 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Burglary | 8 | 1.0 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 8 | 1.0 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Drugs | 7 | 0.8 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Other crime | 3 | 0.4 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 1 | 0.1 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 1 | 0.1 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Robbery | 1 | 0.1 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 1 | 0.1 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
4 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than West Moors & Three Legged Cross; the highest is Wimborne Minster, Dorset (81.2 per 1,000) and the lowest Colehill & Wimborne Minster East (25.2).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs West Moors & Three Legged Cross |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ferndown North | 448 | 54.9 | +53% |
| Ferndown South | 368 | 43.9 | +23% |
| St Leonards & St Ives | 319 | 39.2 | +9% |
| West Parley | 144 | 29.4 | -18% |
| Verwood | 508 | 35.5 | -1% |
| Colehill & Wimborne Minster East | 180 | 25.2 | -30% |
| Wimborne Minster | 906 | 81.2 | +127% |
| Cranborne & Alderholt | 147 | 29.1 | -19% |
The 10 locations below account for 53% of the crime recorded in West Moors & Three Legged Cross over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Cracklewood Close” (36).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Cracklewood Close | 36 |
| On or near Holly Close | 33 |
| On or near Juniper Close | 27 |
| On or near Park Way | 12 |
| On or near Bramble Court | 10 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 10 |
| On or near Camellia Close | 8 |
| On or near Parking Area | 8 |
| On or near Brackendale Court | 7 |
| On or near Uplands Close | 7 |
Of the 216 crimes in West Moors & Three Legged Cross with a recorded outcome, 41% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 0.9% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 84 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 88 | 40.7% | 35.3% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 69 | 31.9% | 34.5% |
| Under investigation | 30 | 13.9% | 11.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 7 | 3.2% | 1.3% |
| Local resolution | 6 | 2.8% | 3.1% |
| Status update unavailable | 5 | 2.3% | 4.7% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 3 | 1.4% | 0.3% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 2 | 0.9% | 5.2% |
| Court result unavailable | 2 | 0.9% | 2.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 2 | 0.9% | 0.6% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.5% | 0.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.5% | 0.5% |
West Moors & Three Legged Cross has an estimated population of 8,370 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has an older population (42%, against 19%), more retired residents (45%, against 22%) and fewer students (2.9%, against 7.9%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up West Moors & Three Legged Cross average decile 6.2 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | West Moors & Three Legged Cross | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 11.2% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 41.8% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 42.8% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 1.9% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 45.3% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 2.9% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 25.4% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 20.9% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 11.9% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 81.4% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 9.8% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 8.9% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.2 | 5.5 (England) |
Is West Moors & Three Legged Cross a safe place to live?
West Moors & Three Legged Cross recorded 35.8 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 3,600th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in West Moors & Three Legged Cross?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 90 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (84).
Is crime in West Moors & Three Legged Cross going up or down?
Recorded crime in West Moors & Three Legged Cross was down 16% on the year before: 300 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 359 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of West Moors & Three Legged Cross?
About 8,370 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 42% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers West Moors & Three Legged Cross?
West Moors & Three Legged Cross 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.