Crime in Westham, Dorset: statistics, rates and trends
971 crimes were recorded in Westham, Dorset in the 12 months to August 2026, 100.2 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 8% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Westham, Dorset at a glance
- Crime trends in Westham, Dorset
- Types of crime in Westham, Dorset
- Westham, Dorset compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Westham, Dorset
- What happened after crimes were reported in Westham, Dorset
- Demographics of Westham, Dorset
- Questions about crime in Westham, Dorset
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (382), anti-social behaviour (291) and shoplifting (66) made up 76% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 1,232nd of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the upper half.
| Measure | Westham, Dorset | Dorset | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 971 | 21,072 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 100.2 | 54.0 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +8% | -4% | -1% |
| Population | 9,688 | 389,947 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Westham, Dorset peaked in the year to August 2019 (1,167 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2024 (874). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 14%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 971 | 100.2 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 899 | 92.8 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 874 | 90.2 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 930 | 96.0 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 925 | 95.5 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 937 | 96.7 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 1,092 | 112.7 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 1,167 | 120.5 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 1,128 | 116.4 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 104 |
| July 2026 | 105 |
| June 2026 | 116 |
| May 2026 | 106 |
| April 2026 | 72 |
| March 2026 | 71 |
| February 2026 | 57 |
| January 2026 | 57 |
| December 2025 | 67 |
| November 2025 | 61 |
| October 2025 | 86 |
| September 2025 | 69 |
Compared with England and Wales, Westham, Dorset recorded notably more anti-social behaviour (2.0 times the national rate), and notably less vehicle crime (58% below) and public order (47% below). On the year before, shoplifting rose from 42 to 66 and anti-social behaviour rose from 253 to 291, while public order fell from 65 to 34.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 382 | 39.4 | 34.2 | +10% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 291 | 30.0 | 15.4 | +15% |
| Shoplifting | 66 | 6.8 | 8.5 | +57% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 62 | 6.4 | 6.7 | +2% |
| Other theft | 44 | 4.5 | 6.4 | -8% |
| Public order | 34 | 3.5 | 6.7 | -48% |
| Burglary | 22 | 2.3 | 3.6 | -4% |
| Vehicle crime | 20 | 2.1 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Drugs | 17 | 1.8 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Robbery | 10 | 1.0 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Other crime | 8 | 0.8 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 7 | 0.7 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 5 | 0.5 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 3 | 0.3 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
1 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Westham, Dorset; the highest is Melcombe Regis (383.1 per 1,000) and the lowest Winterborne & Broadmayne (23.1).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Westham, Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melcombe Regis | 1,884 | 383.1 | +282% |
| Rodwell & Wyke | 745 | 53.6 | -46% |
| Radipole | 711 | 84.5 | -16% |
| Chickerell | 571 | 63.1 | -37% |
| Upwey & Broadwey | 228 | 60.4 | -40% |
| Littlemoor & Preston | 636 | 56.9 | -43% |
| Portland | 912 | 66.3 | -34% |
| Winterborne & Broadmayne | 97 | 23.1 | -77% |
The 10 locations below account for 44% of the crime recorded in Westham, Dorset over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Hereford Road” (70).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Hereford Road | 70 |
| On or near Supermarket | 69 |
| On or near Holland Road | 61 |
| On or near Wessex Road | 45 |
| On or near Parking Area | 39 |
| On or near Franklin Road | 33 |
| On or near Abbotsbury Road | 28 |
| On or near Roundhayes Close | 28 |
| On or near Corscombe Close | 26 |
| On or near Wiltshire Avenue | 24 |
Of the 680 crimes in Westham, Dorset with a recorded outcome, 20% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 14% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 291 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 263 | 38.7% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 134 | 19.7% | 35.3% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 97 | 14.3% | 5.2% |
| Under investigation | 86 | 12.6% | 11.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 31 | 4.6% | 1.3% |
| Court result unavailable | 21 | 3.1% | 2.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 18 | 2.6% | 4.7% |
| Local resolution | 11 | 1.6% | 3.1% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 10 | 1.5% | 0.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 6 | 0.9% | 0.6% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.3% | 0.3% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.1% | 0.3% |
Westham, Dorset has an estimated population of 9,688 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer students (4.8%, against 7.9%), fewer residents with Level 4 qualifications or above (22%, against 34%) and more social housing (21%, against 17%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Westham, Dorset average decile 3.5 (1 = most deprived), more deprived than average.
| Measure | Westham, Dorset | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 16.3% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 22.2% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 55.7% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 3.3% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 23.7% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.8% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 22.4% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 19.6% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 25.2% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 61.6% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 20.6% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 17.7% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 3.5 | 5.5 (England) |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 18.7% | 10.1% (England) |
Is Westham, Dorset a safe place to live?
Westham, Dorset recorded 100.2 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 1,232nd of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were anti-social behaviour.
What is the most common crime in Westham, Dorset?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 382 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (291).
Is crime in Westham, Dorset going up or down?
Recorded crime in Westham, Dorset was up 8% on the year before: 971 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 899 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Westham, Dorset?
About 9,688 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 22% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Westham, Dorset?
Westham, 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.