Crime in Wareham: statistics, rates and trends
362 crimes were recorded in Wareham in the 12 months to July 2026, 61.0 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 2% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Wareham at a glance
- Crime trends in Wareham
- Types of crime in Wareham
- Wareham compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Wareham
- Streets with the most crime in Wareham
- What happened after crimes were reported in Wareham
- Population and deprivation in Wareham
- Questions about crime in Wareham
- About this data
362 crimes were recorded in Wareham in the 12 months to July 2026, 61.0 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 2% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 114 reports (31% of the total).
Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Wareham has the 947th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Wareham | Dorset | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 362 | 20,740 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 61.0 | 53.2 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -2% | -6% | -1% |
| Population | 5,939 | 389,947 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Wareham was highest in the year to July 2018 (486 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2023 (342). Over the whole period it fell 26%, 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 | 362 | 61.0 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 369 | 62.1 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 411 | 69.2 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 342 | 57.6 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 380 | 64.0 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 467 | 78.6 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 459 | 77.3 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 486 | 81.8 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 486 | 81.8 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 40 |
| June 2026 | 30 |
| May 2026 | 34 |
| April 2026 | 42 |
| March 2026 | 42 |
| February 2026 | 33 |
| January 2026 | 16 |
| December 2025 | 21 |
| November 2025 | 24 |
| October 2025 | 22 |
| September 2025 | 24 |
| August 2025 | 34 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Wareham 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 shoplifting (+60%) and anti-social behaviour (+26%).
The largest falls were in vehicle crime (-78%) and public order (-42%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 114 | 19.2 | 0.56 | +4% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 98 | 16.5 | 1.08 | +26% |
| Shoplifting | 40 | 6.7 | 0.81 | +60% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 35 | 5.9 | 0.87 | -5% |
| Other theft | 27 | 4.5 | 0.71 | +17% |
| Public order | 15 | 2.5 | 0.38 | -42% |
| Burglary | 12 | 2.0 | 0.57 | -20% |
| Vehicle crime | 8 | 1.3 | 0.27 | -78% |
| Drugs | 7 | 1.2 | 0.36 | +75% |
| Possession of weapons | 3 | 0.5 | 0.52 | +0% |
| Bicycle theft | 1 | 0.2 | 0.20 | -88% |
| Other crime | 1 | 0.2 | 0.08 | -50% |
| Robbery | 1 | 0.2 | 0.12 | n/a |
Violence and sexual offences in Wareham
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Wareham recorded 114 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (19.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 4% on the year before. It made up 31.5% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Wareham
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Wareham recorded 98 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (16.5 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 26% on the year before. It made up 27.1% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Wareham
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Wareham recorded 40 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 60% on the year before. It made up 11.0% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Wareham
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Wareham recorded 35 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 9.7% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Wareham
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Wareham recorded 27 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 17% on the year before. It made up 7.5% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Wareham
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Wareham recorded 15 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 42% on the year before. It made up 4.1% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Wareham
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Wareham recorded 12 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 20% on the year before. It made up 3.3% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Wareham
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Wareham 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 down 78% on the year before. It made up 2.2% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Wareham
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Wareham recorded 7 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 75% on the year before. It made up 1.9% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Wareham
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Wareham recorded 3 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Wareham
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Wareham 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 88% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Wareham
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Wareham 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 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Wareham
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Wareham 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 with no comparable figure for the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the towns closest to Wareham, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Wareham.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Wareham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upton (Dorset) | 364 | 41.5 | -32% |
| Wool | 284 | 47.7 | -22% |
| Corfe Mullen | 372 | 34.8 | -43% |
| Poole | 10,536 | 72.6 | +19% |
| Swanage | 459 | 48.8 | -20% |
| Merley | 155 | 25.4 | -58% |
| Bearwood | 281 | 55.4 | -9% |
| Wimborne Minster | 960 | 60.1 | -1% |
1 areas within Wareham, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Wareham had the highest rate (55.3 per 1,000) and Wareham the lowest (55.3). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wareham | Neighbourhood | 10,467 | 579 | 55.3 |
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 Wareham over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 64 |
| On or near Christmas Close | 18 |
| On or near Pride Place | 17 |
| On or near North Causeway | 15 |
| On or near Admirals Way | 12 |
| On or near Hibbs Close | 12 |
| On or near Roper'S Lane | 12 |
| On or near Northport Drive | 9 |
| On or near Baggs Lane | 8 |
| On or near Church Green | 8 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Wareham 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 | 98 | 27.1% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 97 | 26.8% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 81 | 22.4% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 25 | 6.9% |
| Under investigation | 21 | 5.8% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 12 | 3.3% |
| Status update unavailable | 10 | 2.8% |
| Local resolution | 6 | 1.7% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 5 | 1.4% |
| Offender given a caution | 4 | 1.1% |
| Court result unavailable | 2 | 0.6% |
| Suspect charged as part of another case | 1 | 0.3% |
Wareham has an estimated population of 5,939. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Wareham sits in decile 5.9, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Wareham |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 14.6% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 52.7% |
| Aged 65 and over | 32.7% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 66.6% |
| Social rented homes | 17.3% |
| Private rented homes | 16.1% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.9 |
Is Wareham a safe place to live?
Wareham recorded 61.0 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 Wareham?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 114 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (98).
Is crime in Wareham going up or down?
Recorded crime in Wareham was down 2% on the year before: 362 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 369 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Wareham?
Wareham 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 Wareham. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.