Crime in Weston (Dorset): statistics, rates and trends
372 crimes were recorded in Weston (Dorset) in the 12 months to August 2026, 67.7 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 17% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Weston (Dorset) at a glance
- Crime trends in Weston (Dorset)
- Types of crime in Weston (Dorset)
- Weston (Dorset) compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Weston (Dorset)
- Streets with the most crime in Weston (Dorset)
- What happened after crimes were reported in Weston (Dorset)
- Demographics of Weston (Dorset)
- Questions about crime in Weston (Dorset)
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (161), anti-social behaviour (100) and criminal damage and arson (36) made up 80% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 814th of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lower half.
| Measure | Weston (Dorset) | Dorset | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 372 | 21,072 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 67.7 | 54.0 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -17% | -4% | -1% |
| Population | 5,491 | 389,947 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Weston (Dorset) peaked in the year to August 2018 (471 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2021 (351). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 21%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 372 | 67.7 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 449 | 81.8 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 461 | 84.0 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 423 | 77.0 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 377 | 68.7 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 351 | 63.9 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 405 | 73.8 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 376 | 68.5 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 471 | 85.8 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 36 |
| July 2026 | 27 |
| June 2026 | 32 |
| May 2026 | 29 |
| April 2026 | 32 |
| March 2026 | 31 |
| February 2026 | 23 |
| January 2026 | 38 |
| December 2025 | 44 |
| November 2025 | 19 |
| October 2025 | 37 |
| September 2025 | 24 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and other theft (35% below) was well below it. On the year before, other theft rose from 20 to 23, while criminal damage and arson fell from 57 to 36 and anti-social behaviour fell from 140 to 100.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 161 | 29.3 | 34.2 | +13% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 100 | 18.2 | 15.4 | -29% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 36 | 6.6 | 6.7 | -37% |
| Other theft | 23 | 4.2 | 6.4 | +15% |
| Shoplifting | 19 | 3.5 | 8.5 | n/a |
| Public order | 11 | 2.0 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Other crime | 7 | 1.3 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Drugs | 5 | 0.9 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Burglary | 3 | 0.5 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 3 | 0.5 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 3 | 0.5 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Robbery | 1 | 0.2 | 1.4 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
3 of the 8 nearest towns have a higher crime rate than Weston (Dorset); the highest is Weymouth (101.3 per 1,000) and the lowest Corfe Mullen (36.8).
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Weston (Dorset) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weymouth | 5,466 | 101.3 | +49% |
| Dorchester (Dorset) | 1,631 | 72.1 | +6% |
| Wool | 302 | 50.7 | -25% |
| Wareham | 354 | 59.6 | -12% |
| Bridport | 845 | 84.8 | +25% |
| Swanage | 477 | 50.7 | -25% |
| Upton (Dorset) | 366 | 41.8 | -38% |
| Corfe Mullen | 393 | 36.8 | -46% |
Portland is the one area listed within Weston (Dorset), with 66.3 crimes per 1,000 residents.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | Neighbourhood | 13,747 | 912 | 66.3 |
The 10 locations below account for 47% of the crime recorded in Weston (Dorset) over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Supermarket” (26).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 26 |
| On or near Court Barton | 25 |
| On or near Easton Square | 19 |
| On or near Park Road | 19 |
| On or near Blindmere Road | 17 |
| On or near Parking Area | 17 |
| On or near Courtlands Road | 14 |
| On or near Weston Street | 13 |
| On or near Woolcombe Road | 13 |
| On or near Yeolands Road | 13 |
Of the 272 crimes in Weston (Dorset) with a recorded outcome, 27% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 4.8% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 100 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 115 | 42.3% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 74 | 27.2% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 25 | 9.2% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 13 | 4.8% | 5.2% |
| Status update unavailable | 11 | 4.0% | 4.7% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 10 | 3.7% | 1.3% |
| Local resolution | 7 | 2.6% | 3.1% |
| Court result unavailable | 5 | 1.8% | 2.5% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 5 | 1.8% | 0.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 4 | 1.5% | 0.6% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.7% | 0.3% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.4% | 0.3% |
Weston (Dorset) has an estimated population of 5,491 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer students (4.1%, against 7.9%), less social housing (9.8%, against 17.1%) and fewer residents with Level 4 qualifications or above (22%, against 34%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Weston (Dorset) average decile 4.1 (1 = most deprived), more deprived than average.
| Measure | Weston (Dorset) | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 18.6% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 23.6% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 56.3% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.4% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 27.5% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.1% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 22.2% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 17.1% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 19.2% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 70.8% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 9.8% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 19.4% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 4.1 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Weston (Dorset) a safe place to live?
Weston (Dorset) recorded 67.7 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 814th of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Weston (Dorset)?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 161 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (100).
Is crime in Weston (Dorset) going up or down?
Recorded crime in Weston (Dorset) was down 17% on the year before: 372 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 449 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Weston (Dorset)?
About 5,491 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 24% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Weston (Dorset)?
Weston (Dorset) 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.