Crime in West Moors: statistics, rates and trends
448 crimes were recorded in West Moors in the 12 months to August 2026, 42.8 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 5% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in West Moors at a glance
- Crime trends in West Moors
- Types of crime in West Moors
- West Moors compared with nearby towns
- Areas within West Moors
- Streets with the most crime in West Moors
- What happened after crimes were reported in West Moors
- Demographics of West Moors
- Questions about crime in West Moors
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (150), anti-social behaviour (132) and criminal damage and arson (46) made up 73% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 1,253rd of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lowest tenth.
| Measure | West Moors | Dorset | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 448 | 21,072 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 42.8 | 54.0 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -5% | -4% | -1% |
| Population | 10,477 | 389,947 | 58,127,638 |
The year to August 2026 had the least recorded crime in West Moors of any year here (448 crimes). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 13%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 448 | 42.8 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 470 | 44.9 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 575 | 54.9 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 554 | 52.9 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 634 | 60.5 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 641 | 61.2 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 550 | 52.5 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 469 | 44.8 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 516 | 49.3 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 53 |
| July 2026 | 53 |
| June 2026 | 37 |
| May 2026 | 29 |
| April 2026 | 41 |
| March 2026 | 29 |
| February 2026 | 24 |
| January 2026 | 39 |
| December 2025 | 29 |
| November 2025 | 34 |
| October 2025 | 36 |
| September 2025 | 44 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and shoplifting (73% below) and public order (71% below) were well below it. On the year before, other theft rose from 30 to 35.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 150 | 14.3 | 34.2 | -10% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 132 | 12.6 | 15.4 | -6% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 46 | 4.4 | 6.7 | -8% |
| Other theft | 35 | 3.3 | 6.4 | +17% |
| Shoplifting | 24 | 2.3 | 8.5 | n/a |
| Public order | 20 | 1.9 | 6.7 | 0% |
| Vehicle crime | 12 | 1.1 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Burglary | 11 | 1.0 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Drugs | 8 | 0.8 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Other crime | 5 | 0.5 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 2 | 0.2 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 1 | 0.1 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Robbery | 1 | 0.1 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 1 | 0.1 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
4 of the 8 nearest towns have a higher crime rate than West Moors; the highest is Bournemouth (108.0 per 1,000) and the lowest Merley (27.4).
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs West Moors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ferndown | 545 | 39.6 | -7% |
| Ashley Heath | 319 | 39.2 | -8% |
| Verwood | 508 | 35.5 | -17% |
| Wimborne Minster | 972 | 60.8 | +42% |
| Bearwood | 302 | 59.5 | +39% |
| Merley | 167 | 27.4 | -36% |
| Ringwood | 920 | 71.3 | +67% |
| Bournemouth | 21,896 | 108.0 | +153% |
West Moors & Three Legged Cross is the one area listed within West Moors, with 35.8 crimes per 1,000 residents.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Moors & Three Legged Cross | Neighbourhood | 8,370 | 300 | 35.8 |
The 10 locations below account for 45% of the crime recorded in West Moors over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Cracklewood Close” (36).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Cracklewood Close | 36 |
| On or near Holly Close | 33 |
| On or near Petwyn Close | 32 |
| On or near Dugdell Close | 16 |
| On or near Thames Close | 16 |
| On or near Ameys Lane | 15 |
| On or near Severn Road | 15 |
| On or near Ford Lane | 14 |
| On or near Lockyers Drive | 13 |
| On or near Park Way | 12 |
Of the 316 crimes in West Moors with a recorded outcome, 39% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 2.2% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 132 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 124 | 39.2% | 35.3% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 110 | 34.8% | 34.5% |
| Under investigation | 34 | 10.8% | 11.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 12 | 3.8% | 1.3% |
| Status update unavailable | 10 | 3.2% | 4.7% |
| Local resolution | 8 | 2.5% | 3.1% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 7 | 2.2% | 5.2% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 4 | 1.3% | 0.5% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.9% | 0.3% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.6% | 0.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 2 | 0.6% | 0.6% |
West Moors has an estimated population of 10,477 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has an older population (39%, against 19%), more retired residents (43%, against 22%) and fewer students (3.3%, against 7.9%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up West Moors average decile 5.3 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | West Moors | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 13.1% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 38.6% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 43.5% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.0% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 42.9% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 3.3% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 24.7% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 21.0% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 12.9% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 77.2% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 12.9% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 9.9% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.3 | 5.5 (England) |
Is West Moors a safe place to live?
West Moors recorded 42.8 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 1,253rd of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in West Moors?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 150 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (132).
Is crime in West Moors going up or down?
Recorded crime in West Moors was down 5% on the year before: 448 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 470 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of West Moors?
About 10,477 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 39% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers West Moors?
West Moors is policed by Dorset.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.