Crime in the Dorset Police area: statistics, rates and trends
56,174 crimes were recorded in the Dorset Police area in the 12 months to July 2026, 70.3 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 5% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in the Dorset Police area at a glance
- Crime trends in the Dorset Police area
- Types of crime in the Dorset Police area
- The Dorset Police area compared with nearby police force areas
- Areas within the Dorset Police area
- What happened after crimes were reported in the Dorset Police area
- Population and deprivation in the Dorset Police area
- Questions about crime in the Dorset Police area
- About this data
56,174 crimes were recorded in the Dorset Police area in the 12 months to July 2026, 70.3 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 5% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 18,539 reports (33% of the total).
Of the 42 police force areas covered by this site, the Dorset Police area has the 40th highest crime rate.
| Measure | the Dorset Police area | England | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 56,174 | 5,360,756 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 70.3 | 96.4 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -5% | -1% | -1% |
| Population | 798,914 | 55,610,437 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in the Dorset Police area was highest in the year to July 2018 (74,847 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (56,174). 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 | 56,174 | 70.3 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 59,026 | 73.9 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 61,295 | 76.7 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 62,773 | 78.6 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 67,071 | 84.0 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 71,307 | 89.3 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 72,194 | 90.4 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 73,099 | 91.5 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 74,847 | 93.7 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 6,322 |
| June 2026 | 5,089 |
| May 2026 | 5,248 |
| April 2026 | 4,695 |
| March 2026 | 4,552 |
| February 2026 | 4,203 |
| January 2026 | 4,090 |
| December 2025 | 4,238 |
| November 2025 | 4,060 |
| October 2025 | 4,440 |
| September 2025 | 4,220 |
| August 2025 | 5,017 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in the Dorset Police area 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 increases were in robbery (+23%) and drugs (+21%).
The largest falls were in theft from the person (-23%) and public order (-18%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 18,539 | 23.2 | 0.68 | -6% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 14,729 | 18.4 | 1.20 | +7% |
| Shoplifting | 4,496 | 5.6 | 0.68 | -7% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 4,053 | 5.1 | 0.75 | -12% |
| Other theft | 3,444 | 4.3 | 0.67 | -14% |
| Vehicle crime | 2,923 | 3.7 | 0.74 | -12% |
| Public order | 2,729 | 3.4 | 0.51 | -18% |
| Burglary | 2,001 | 2.5 | 0.71 | -12% |
| Drugs | 1,149 | 1.4 | 0.44 | +21% |
| Other crime | 567 | 0.7 | 0.34 | -8% |
| Bicycle theft | 532 | 0.7 | 0.81 | -15% |
| Robbery | 436 | 0.5 | 0.40 | +23% |
| Possession of weapons | 336 | 0.4 | 0.43 | -10% |
| Theft from the person | 240 | 0.3 | 0.18 | -23% |
Violence and sexual offences in the Dorset Police area
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. The Dorset Police area recorded 18,539 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (23.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 6% on the year before. It made up 33.0% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in the Dorset Police area
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. The Dorset Police area recorded 14,729 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (18.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 7% on the year before. It made up 26.2% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in the Dorset Police area
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. The Dorset Police area recorded 4,496 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 8.0% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in the Dorset Police area
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. The Dorset Police area recorded 4,053 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 12% on the year before. It made up 7.2% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in the Dorset Police area
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. The Dorset Police area recorded 3,444 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 14% on the year before. It made up 6.1% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in the Dorset Police area
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. The Dorset Police area recorded 2,923 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 12% on the year before. It made up 5.2% of all crime in the area.
Public order in the Dorset Police area
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. The Dorset Police area recorded 2,729 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 18% on the year before. It made up 4.9% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in the Dorset Police area
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. The Dorset Police area recorded 2,001 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 12% on the year before. It made up 3.6% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in the Dorset Police area
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. The Dorset Police area recorded 1,149 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 21% on the year before. It made up 2.0% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in the Dorset Police area
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. The Dorset Police area recorded 567 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in the Dorset Police area
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. The Dorset Police area recorded 532 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 15% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in the Dorset Police area
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. The Dorset Police area recorded 436 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 23% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in the Dorset Police area
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. The Dorset Police area recorded 336 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 10% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in the Dorset Police area
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. The Dorset Police area recorded 240 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 23% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the police force areas closest to the Dorset Police area, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to the Dorset Police area.
| Police force area | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs the Dorset Police area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hampshire | 165,842 | 80.4 | +14% |
| Wiltshire | 51,651 | 67.3 | -4% |
| Avon and Somerset | 188,371 | 103.9 | +48% |
| Gloucestershire | 55,492 | 82.9 | +18% |
| Gwent | 70,783 | 117.6 | +67% |
| Thames Valley | 193,968 | 73.5 | +4% |
| Surrey | 87,826 | 70.3 | +0% |
| South Wales | 124,335 | 91.2 | +30% |
2 areas within the Dorset Police area, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole had the highest rate (86.6 per 1,000) and Dorset the lowest (53.2). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole | District | 408,967 | 35,434 | 86.6 |
| Dorset | District | 389,947 | 20,740 | 53.2 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in the Dorset Police area 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Not recorded | 14,729 | 26.2% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 14,655 | 26.1% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 13,966 | 24.9% |
| Under investigation | 4,632 | 8.2% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 2,469 | 4.4% |
| Status update unavailable | 1,300 | 2.3% |
| Local resolution | 1,146 | 2.0% |
| Court result unavailable | 906 | 1.6% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 817 | 1.5% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 759 | 1.4% |
| Offender given a caution | 435 | 0.8% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 220 | 0.4% |
The Dorset Police area has an estimated population of 798,914. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in the Dorset Police area sits in decile 6.2, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | the Dorset Police area |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 15.5% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 58.5% |
| Aged 65 and over | 26.0% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 67.4% |
| Social rented homes | 11.6% |
| Private rented homes | 20.9% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.2 |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 3.4% |
Is the Dorset Police area a safe place to live?
The Dorset Police area recorded 70.3 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 the Dorset Police area?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 18,539 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (14,729).
Is crime in the Dorset Police area going up or down?
Recorded crime in the Dorset Police area was down 5% on the year before: 56,174 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 59,026 in the previous 12 months.
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 the Dorset Police area. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.