Crime in Dorking: statistics, rates and trends
1,343 crimes were recorded in Dorking in the 12 months to August 2026, 79.3 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 3% on the year before.
Table of Contents
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (463), anti-social behaviour (205) and shoplifting (127) made up 59% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 624th of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the upper half.
| Measure | Dorking | Mole Valley | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 1,343 | 5,798 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 79.3 | 65.4 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -3% | +3% | -1% |
| Population | 16,927 | 88,709 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Dorking peaked in the year to August 2019 (1,556 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2023 (1,196). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 5%, in line with England and Wales.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 1,343 | 79.3 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 1,382 | 81.6 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 1,464 | 86.5 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 1,196 | 70.7 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 1,263 | 74.6 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 1,443 | 85.2 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 1,476 | 87.2 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 1,556 | 91.9 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 1,413 | 83.5 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 100 |
| July 2026 | 121 |
| June 2026 | 125 |
| May 2026 | 133 |
| April 2026 | 152 |
| March 2026 | 93 |
| February 2026 | 116 |
| January 2026 | 85 |
| December 2025 | 106 |
| November 2025 | 99 |
| October 2025 | 122 |
| September 2025 | 91 |
Compared with England and Wales, Dorking recorded notably more burglary (56% above the national rate), and notably less vehicle crime (48% below) and other theft (27% below). On the year before, drugs rose from 24 to 42 and burglary rose from 57 to 94, while criminal damage and arson fell from 137 to 107.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 463 | 27.4 | 34.2 | -9% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 205 | 12.1 | 15.4 | -5% |
| Shoplifting | 127 | 7.5 | 8.5 | +26% |
| Public order | 118 | 7.0 | 6.7 | -12% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 107 | 6.3 | 6.7 | -22% |
| Burglary | 94 | 5.6 | 3.6 | +65% |
| Other theft | 80 | 4.7 | 6.4 | -15% |
| Vehicle crime | 44 | 2.6 | 5.0 | -6% |
| Drugs | 42 | 2.5 | 3.3 | +75% |
| Other crime | 35 | 2.1 | 2.1 | +17% |
| Robbery | 9 | 0.5 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 8 | 0.5 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 6 | 0.4 | 1.7 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 5 | 0.3 | 0.8 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
2 of the 8 nearest towns have a higher crime rate than Dorking; the highest is Leatherhead (120.2 per 1,000) and the lowest Ashtead (29.9).
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Dorking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Bookham and Fetcham | 933 | 41.4 | -48% |
| Leatherhead | 1,520 | 120.2 | +51% |
| Reigate | 1,550 | 59.4 | -25% |
| East Horsley | 198 | 33.6 | -58% |
| Ashtead | 446 | 29.9 | -62% |
| Redhill (Reigate and Banstead) | 2,948 | 87.4 | +10% |
| Tadworth and Epsom Downs | 1,493 | 53.8 | -32% |
| Cobham (Elmbridge) | 1,324 | 71.0 | -10% |
Of the 3 areas within Dorking, Dorking North had the highest crime rate (87.7 per 1,000) and Holmwoods & Beare Green the lowest (49.4).
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dorking North | Neighbourhood | 4,630 | 406 | 87.7 |
| Dorking South | Neighbourhood | 9,265 | 777 | 83.9 |
| Holmwoods & Beare Green | Neighbourhood | 6,596 | 326 | 49.4 |
The 10 locations below account for 29% of the crime recorded in Dorking over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Shopping Area” (76).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Shopping Area | 76 |
| On or near Victoria Terrace | 48 |
| On or near Dene Street Gardens | 45 |
| On or near Supermarket | 39 |
| On or near Ridgeway Close | 36 |
| On or near South Terrace | 36 |
| On or near Parking Area | 32 |
| On or near Stubs Close | 29 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 28 |
| On or near St Martins Mews | 25 |
Of the 1,138 crimes in Dorking with a recorded outcome, 34% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 4.4% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 205 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 440 | 38.7% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 386 | 33.9% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 129 | 11.3% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 50 | 4.4% | 5.2% |
| Status update unavailable | 49 | 4.3% | 4.7% |
| Local resolution | 35 | 3.1% | 3.1% |
| Court result unavailable | 18 | 1.6% | 2.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 14 | 1.2% | 1.3% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 6 | 0.5% | 0.3% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 4 | 0.4% | 0.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 4 | 0.4% | 0.6% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.3% | 0.5% |
Dorking has an estimated population of 16,927 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer students (5.1%, against 7.9%), fewer households without a car (16%, against 23%) and more residents with Level 4 qualifications or above (43%, against 34%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Dorking average decile 7.9 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.
| Measure | Dorking | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 18.0% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 20.8% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 62.0% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.5% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 22.8% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 5.1% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 43.2% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 13.4% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 16.3% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 65.8% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 17.0% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 17.2% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 7.9 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Dorking a safe place to live?
Dorking recorded 79.3 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 624th of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were burglary.
What is the most common crime in Dorking?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 463 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (205).
Is crime in Dorking going up or down?
Recorded crime in Dorking was down 3% on the year before: 1,343 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 1,382 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Dorking?
About 16,927 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 21% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Dorking?
Dorking is policed by Surrey.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.