Crime in Merley: statistics, rates and trends
155 crimes were recorded in Merley in the 12 months to July 2026, 25.4 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 7% on the year before.
Table of Contents
155 crimes were recorded in Merley in the 12 months to July 2026, 25.4 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 7% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 66 reports (43% of the total).
Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Merley has the 1,403rd highest crime rate.
| Measure | Merley | Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 155 | 35,434 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 25.4 | 86.6 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -7% | -4% | -1% |
| Population | 6,102 | 408,967 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Merley was highest in the year to July 2019 (227 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2023 (145). Over the whole period it fell 8%, 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 | 155 | 25.4 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 167 | 27.4 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 175 | 28.7 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 145 | 23.8 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 149 | 24.4 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 194 | 31.8 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 188 | 30.8 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 227 | 37.2 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 168 | 27.5 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 13 |
| June 2026 | 9 |
| May 2026 | 15 |
| April 2026 | 16 |
| March 2026 | 19 |
| February 2026 | 10 |
| January 2026 | 15 |
| December 2025 | 14 |
| November 2025 | 10 |
| October 2025 | 15 |
| September 2025 | 7 |
| August 2025 | 12 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Merley 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 violence and sexual offences (+25%).
The largest falls were in shoplifting (-65%) and anti-social behaviour (-24%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 66 | 10.8 | 0.32 | +25% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 35 | 5.7 | 0.37 | -24% |
| Other theft | 12 | 2.0 | 0.31 | -14% |
| Public order | 9 | 1.5 | 0.22 | +12% |
| Vehicle crime | 8 | 1.3 | 0.27 | +167% |
| Burglary | 7 | 1.1 | 0.32 | -12% |
| Shoplifting | 7 | 1.1 | 0.14 | -65% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 6 | 1.0 | 0.14 | -25% |
| Bicycle theft | 1 | 0.2 | 0.20 | -67% |
| Drugs | 1 | 0.2 | 0.05 | +0% |
| Other crime | 1 | 0.2 | 0.08 | -50% |
| Robbery | 1 | 0.2 | 0.12 | +0% |
| Theft from the person | 1 | 0.2 | 0.10 | n/a |
Violence and sexual offences in Merley
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Merley recorded 66 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 25% on the year before. It made up 42.6% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Merley
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Merley recorded 35 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 24% on the year before. It made up 22.6% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Merley
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Merley recorded 12 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 14% on the year before. It made up 7.7% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Merley
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Merley recorded 9 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 12% on the year before. It made up 5.8% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Merley
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Merley recorded 8 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 167% on the year before. It made up 5.2% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Merley
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Merley recorded 7 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 12% on the year before. It made up 4.5% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Merley
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Merley recorded 7 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 65% on the year before. It made up 4.5% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Merley
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Merley recorded 6 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 25% on the year before. It made up 3.9% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Merley
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Merley recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 67% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Merley
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Merley recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Merley
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Merley recorded 1 report 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 50% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Merley
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Merley recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Merley
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Merley recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 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 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the towns closest to Merley, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Merley.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Merley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wimborne Minster | 960 | 60.1 | +137% |
| Bearwood | 281 | 55.4 | +118% |
| Corfe Mullen | 372 | 34.8 | +37% |
| Ferndown | 538 | 39.1 | +54% |
| Poole | 10,536 | 72.6 | +186% |
| Upton (Dorset) | 364 | 41.5 | +64% |
| West Moors | 421 | 40.2 | +58% |
| Bournemouth | 21,650 | 106.8 | +321% |
1 areas within Merley, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Bearwood & Merley had the highest rate (57.0 per 1,000) and Bearwood & Merley the lowest (57.0). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bearwood & Merley | Neighbourhood | 14,381 | 819 | 57.0 |
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 Merley over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Knighton Lane | 13 |
| On or near Selkirk Close | 13 |
| On or near Moortown Drive | 12 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 9 |
| On or near Gravel Hill | 8 |
| On or near Hawker Close | 8 |
| On or near Oakley Hill | 7 |
| On or near Stirling Place | 7 |
| On or near De Montfort Road | 6 |
| On or near Oakley Lane | 6 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Merley 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 52 | 33.5% |
| Not recorded | 35 | 22.6% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 34 | 21.9% |
| Under investigation | 9 | 5.8% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 6 | 3.9% |
| Status update unavailable | 5 | 3.2% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 4 | 2.6% |
| Local resolution | 4 | 2.6% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 3 | 1.9% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 2 | 1.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 1 | 0.6% |
Merley has an estimated population of 6,102. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Merley sits in decile 9.2, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Merley |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 15.9% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 52.1% |
| Aged 65 and over | 31.9% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 87.6% |
| Social rented homes | 3.5% |
| Private rented homes | 8.9% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 9.2 |
Is Merley a safe place to live?
Merley recorded 25.4 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 Merley?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 66 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (35).
Is crime in Merley going up or down?
Recorded crime in Merley was down 7% on the year before: 155 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 167 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Merley?
Merley 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 Merley. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.