Crime in West Moors & Three Legged Cross: statistics, rates and trends
297 crimes were recorded in West Moors & Three Legged Cross in the 12 months to July 2026, 35.5 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 20% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- 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
- Population and deprivation in West Moors & Three Legged Cross
- Questions about crime in West Moors & Three Legged Cross
- About this data
297 crimes were recorded in West Moors & Three Legged Cross in the 12 months to July 2026, 35.5 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 20% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 96 reports (32% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, West Moors & Three Legged Cross has the 3,618th highest crime rate.
| Measure | West Moors & Three Legged Cross | Dorset | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 297 | 20,740 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 35.5 | 53.2 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -20% | -6% | -1% |
| Population | 8,370 | 389,947 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in West Moors & Three Legged Cross was highest in the year to July 2021 (418 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (297). Over the whole period it fell 25%, against a fall of 4% across England and Wales. Rates use today's population for every year, so they show the direction of change rather than exact historic rates.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to July 2026 | 297 | 35.5 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 369 | 44.1 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 355 | 42.4 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 366 | 43.7 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 363 | 43.4 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 418 | 49.9 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 372 | 44.4 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 335 | 40.0 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 397 | 47.4 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| August 2025 | 27 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in West Moors & Three Legged Cross over the 12 months to July 2026. The index compares the local rate with England and Wales: 1.00 is the national rate, 2.00 is double it. The largest falls were in violence and sexual offences (-30%) and other theft (-30%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 96 | 11.5 | 0.34 | -30% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 82 | 9.8 | 0.64 | -15% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 32 | 3.8 | 0.56 | +0% |
| Shoplifting | 24 | 2.9 | 0.35 | +33% |
| Other theft | 21 | 2.5 | 0.39 | -30% |
| Public order | 16 | 1.9 | 0.29 | -24% |
| Vehicle crime | 9 | 1.1 | 0.22 | -10% |
| Burglary | 7 | 0.8 | 0.24 | -22% |
| Drugs | 5 | 0.6 | 0.18 | +0% |
| Other crime | 2 | 0.2 | 0.11 | -60% |
| Bicycle theft | 1 | 0.1 | 0.15 | -50% |
| Possession of weapons | 1 | 0.1 | 0.12 | -50% |
| Theft from the person | 1 | 0.1 | 0.07 | n/a |
Violence and sexual offences in West Moors & Three Legged Cross
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. West Moors & Three Legged Cross recorded 96 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (11.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 30% on the year before. It made up 32.3% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in West Moors & Three Legged Cross
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. West Moors & Three Legged Cross recorded 82 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 15% on the year before. It made up 27.6% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in West Moors & Three Legged Cross
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. West Moors & Three Legged Cross recorded 32 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 10.8% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in West Moors & Three Legged Cross
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. West Moors & Three Legged Cross recorded 24 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 33% on the year before. It made up 8.1% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in West Moors & Three Legged Cross
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. West Moors & Three Legged Cross recorded 21 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 30% on the year before. It made up 7.1% of all crime in the area.
Public order in West Moors & Three Legged Cross
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. West Moors & Three Legged Cross recorded 16 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 24% on the year before. It made up 5.4% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in West Moors & Three Legged Cross
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. West Moors & Three Legged Cross recorded 9 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 10% on the year before. It made up 3.0% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in West Moors & Three Legged Cross
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. West Moors & Three Legged Cross recorded 7 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 22% on the year before. It made up 2.4% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in West Moors & Three Legged Cross
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. West Moors & Three Legged Cross recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 1.7% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in West Moors & Three Legged Cross
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. West Moors & Three Legged Cross recorded 2 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 60% on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in West Moors & Three Legged Cross
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. West Moors & Three Legged Cross recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 50% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in West Moors & Three Legged Cross
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. West Moors & Three Legged Cross recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 50% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in West Moors & Three Legged Cross
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. West Moors & Three Legged Cross recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and with no comparable figure for the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to West Moors & Three Legged Cross, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to West Moors & Three Legged Cross.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs West Moors & Three Legged Cross |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ferndown North | 452 | 55.4 | +56% |
| Ferndown South | 340 | 40.6 | +14% |
| St Leonards & St Ives | 329 | 40.4 | +14% |
| West Parley | 154 | 31.5 | -11% |
| Verwood | 510 | 35.6 | +0% |
| Colehill & Wimborne Minster East | 169 | 23.7 | -33% |
| Wimborne Minster | 897 | 80.4 | +127% |
| Cranborne & Alderholt | 153 | 30.3 | -15% |
Police.uk records each crime at an approximate location, usually the centre of a nearby street or a landmark, to protect victims' privacy. These are the locations with the most reports in West Moors & Three Legged Cross over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Cracklewood Close | 38 |
| On or near Holly Close | 29 |
| On or near Juniper Close | 29 |
| On or near Bramble Court | 13 |
| On or near Park Way | 12 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 10 |
| On or near Camellia Close | 9 |
| On or near Brackendale Court | 7 |
| On or near Parking Area | 7 |
| On or near Uplands Close | 7 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in West Moors & Three Legged Cross over the 12 months to July 2026. Many cases are still open when the data is published, and anti-social behaviour has no outcome recorded, so these shares change as investigations finish.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 89 | 30.0% |
| Not recorded | 82 | 27.6% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 69 | 23.2% |
| Under investigation | 28 | 9.4% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 6 | 2.0% |
| Local resolution | 6 | 2.0% |
| Status update unavailable | 6 | 2.0% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 3 | 1.0% |
| Court result unavailable | 2 | 0.7% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 2 | 0.7% |
| Offender given a caution | 2 | 0.7% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.3% |
West Moors & Three Legged Cross has an estimated population of 8,370. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in West Moors & Three Legged Cross sits in decile 6.2, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | West Moors & Three Legged Cross |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 11.2% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 47.0% |
| Aged 65 and over | 41.8% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 81.4% |
| Social rented homes | 9.8% |
| Private rented homes | 8.9% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.2 |
Is West Moors & Three Legged Cross a safe place to live?
West Moors & Three Legged Cross recorded 35.5 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4. Crime is concentrated in a small number of places within most areas, often busy centres and transport hubs, so the rate for a single street can differ a lot from the area as a whole.
What is the most common crime in West Moors & Three Legged Cross?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 96 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (82).
Is crime in West Moors & Three Legged Cross going up or down?
Recorded crime in West Moors & Three Legged Cross was down 20% on the year before: 297 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 369 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers West Moors & Three Legged Cross?
West Moors & Three Legged Cross is policed by Dorset. Non-emergency crimes can be reported online to the force or by calling 101; in an emergency call 999.
How are these crime rates calculated?
Each rate is the number of crimes recorded by the police in the 12 months to July 2026, divided by the resident population and multiplied by 1,000. Crime data is from data.police.uk and population estimates are from the Office for National Statistics.
Figures are police-recorded crime published on data.police.uk, covering August 2017 to July 2026. Each crime is counted in the small area (LSOA) where it was recorded and added up to West Moors & Three Legged Cross. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.