Crime in Bridport: statistics, rates and trends
820 crimes were recorded in Bridport in the 12 months to July 2026, 82.3 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 1% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Bridport at a glance
- Crime trends in Bridport
- Types of crime in Bridport
- Bridport compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Bridport
- Streets with the most crime in Bridport
- What happened after crimes were reported in Bridport
- Population and deprivation in Bridport
- Questions about crime in Bridport
- About this data
820 crimes were recorded in Bridport in the 12 months to July 2026, 82.3 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 1% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 287 reports (35% of the total).
Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Bridport has the 577th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Bridport | Dorset | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 820 | 20,740 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 82.3 | 53.2 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +1% | -6% | -1% |
| Population | 9,964 | 389,947 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Bridport was highest in the year to July 2018 (1,073 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2023 (775). Over the whole period it fell 24%, 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 | 820 | 82.3 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 808 | 81.1 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 860 | 86.3 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 775 | 77.8 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 812 | 81.5 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 926 | 92.9 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 1,001 | 100.5 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 936 | 93.9 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 1,073 | 107.7 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 102 |
| June 2026 | 66 |
| May 2026 | 98 |
| April 2026 | 76 |
| March 2026 | 71 |
| February 2026 | 58 |
| January 2026 | 42 |
| December 2025 | 52 |
| November 2025 | 52 |
| October 2025 | 60 |
| September 2025 | 62 |
| August 2025 | 81 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Bridport 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. Rates were well above the national level for anti-social behaviour.
The largest increases were in shoplifting (+31%) and anti-social behaviour (+21%). The largest falls were in vehicle crime (-43%) and violence and sexual offences (-11%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 287 | 28.8 | 0.84 | -11% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 243 | 24.4 | 1.59 | +21% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 61 | 6.1 | 0.90 | +15% |
| Shoplifting | 59 | 5.9 | 0.71 | +31% |
| Other theft | 52 | 5.2 | 0.82 | -10% |
| Public order | 43 | 4.3 | 0.65 | +8% |
| Burglary | 28 | 2.8 | 0.79 | +56% |
| Vehicle crime | 16 | 1.6 | 0.33 | -43% |
| Drugs | 11 | 1.1 | 0.34 | -35% |
| Possession of weapons | 9 | 0.9 | 0.93 | +200% |
| Robbery | 5 | 0.5 | 0.37 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 3 | 0.3 | 0.37 | -57% |
| Other crime | 2 | 0.2 | 0.10 | -82% |
| Theft from the person | 1 | 0.1 | 0.06 | -75% |
Violence and sexual offences in Bridport
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Bridport recorded 287 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (28.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 11% on the year before. It made up 35.0% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Bridport
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Bridport recorded 243 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (24.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 21% on the year before. It made up 29.6% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Bridport
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Bridport recorded 61 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.1 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 15% on the year before. It made up 7.4% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Bridport
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Bridport recorded 59 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 31% on the year before. It made up 7.2% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Bridport
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Bridport recorded 52 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 10% on the year before. It made up 6.3% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Bridport
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Bridport recorded 43 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 8% on the year before. It made up 5.2% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Bridport
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Bridport recorded 28 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 56% on the year before. It made up 3.4% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Bridport
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Bridport recorded 16 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 43% on the year before. It made up 2.0% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Bridport
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Bridport recorded 11 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 35% on the year before. It made up 1.3% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Bridport
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Bridport recorded 9 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 200% on the year before. It made up 1.1% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Bridport
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Bridport recorded 5 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 with no comparable figure for the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Bridport
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Bridport recorded 3 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 57% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Bridport
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Bridport 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 82% on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Bridport
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Bridport 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 down 75% on the year before. It made up 0.1% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the towns closest to Bridport, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Bridport.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Bridport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crewkerne | 608 | 92.3 | +12% |
| Axminster | 500 | 69.5 | -15% |
| Chard | 1,834 | 125.5 | +52% |
| Dorchester (Dorset) | 1,637 | 72.4 | -12% |
| Seaton (East Devon) | 337 | 43.3 | -47% |
| Weymouth | 5,342 | 99.0 | +20% |
| Ilminster | 403 | 65.2 | -21% |
| Yeovil | 6,175 | 119.0 | +45% |
1 areas within Bridport, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Bridport had the highest rate (68.3 per 1,000) and Bridport the lowest (68.3). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridport | Neighbourhood | 13,874 | 948 | 68.3 |
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 Bridport over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 112 |
| On or near Downes Street | 96 |
| On or near Supermarket | 45 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 38 |
| On or near Gundry Lane | 28 |
| On or near Alexandra Road | 24 |
| On or near West End Row | 24 |
| On or near Normandy Way | 22 |
| On or near Journeys End | 20 |
| On or near Quayside | 20 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Bridport 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 | 243 | 29.6% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 208 | 25.4% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 180 | 22.0% |
| Under investigation | 73 | 8.9% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 29 | 3.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 18 | 2.2% |
| Local resolution | 17 | 2.1% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 15 | 1.8% |
| Offender given a caution | 14 | 1.7% |
| Court result unavailable | 11 | 1.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 7 | 0.9% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.4% |
Bridport has an estimated population of 9,964. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Bridport sits in decile 5.7, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Bridport |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 12.1% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 51.5% |
| Aged 65 and over | 36.4% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 64.0% |
| Social rented homes | 19.2% |
| Private rented homes | 16.8% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.7 |
Is Bridport a safe place to live?
Bridport recorded 82.3 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 Bridport?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 287 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (243).
Is crime in Bridport going up or down?
Recorded crime in Bridport was up 1% on the year before: 820 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 808 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Bridport?
Bridport 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 Bridport. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.