Crime in Wool: statistics, rates and trends
284 crimes were recorded in Wool in the 12 months to July 2026, 47.7 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 16% on the year before.
284 crimes were recorded in Wool in the 12 months to July 2026, 47.7 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 16% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 107 reports (38% of the total).
Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Wool has the 1,202nd highest crime rate.
| Measure | Wool | Dorset | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 284 | 20,740 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 47.7 | 53.2 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -16% | -6% | -1% |
| Population | 5,958 | 389,947 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Wool was highest in the year to July 2021 (445 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (284). Over the whole period it fell 28%, 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 | 284 | 47.7 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 339 | 56.9 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 329 | 55.2 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 318 | 53.4 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 373 | 62.6 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 445 | 74.7 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 340 | 57.1 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 354 | 59.4 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 393 | 66.0 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 30 |
| June 2026 | 24 |
| May 2026 | 20 |
| April 2026 | 16 |
| March 2026 | 27 |
| February 2026 | 16 |
| January 2026 | 20 |
| December 2025 | 24 |
| November 2025 | 24 |
| October 2025 | 37 |
| September 2025 | 25 |
| August 2025 | 21 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Wool 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 falls were in public order (-45%) and anti-social behaviour (-31%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 107 | 18.0 | 0.52 | -8% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 91 | 15.3 | 1.00 | -31% |
| Other theft | 26 | 4.4 | 0.68 | +62% |
| Public order | 16 | 2.7 | 0.40 | -45% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 12 | 2.0 | 0.30 | -29% |
| Burglary | 9 | 1.5 | 0.43 | +29% |
| Vehicle crime | 9 | 1.5 | 0.31 | +29% |
| Shoplifting | 8 | 1.3 | 0.16 | +14% |
| Other crime | 3 | 0.5 | 0.24 | +50% |
| Drugs | 1 | 0.2 | 0.05 | -50% |
| Possession of weapons | 1 | 0.2 | 0.17 | -50% |
| Theft from the person | 1 | 0.2 | 0.10 | n/a |
Violence and sexual offences in Wool
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Wool recorded 107 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (18.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 37.7% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Wool
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Wool recorded 91 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (15.3 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 31% on the year before. It made up 32.0% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Wool
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Wool recorded 26 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 62% on the year before. It made up 9.2% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Wool
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Wool recorded 16 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 45% on the year before. It made up 5.6% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Wool
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Wool recorded 12 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 29% on the year before. It made up 4.2% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Wool
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Wool recorded 9 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 29% on the year before. It made up 3.2% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Wool
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Wool recorded 9 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 29% on the year before. It made up 3.2% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Wool
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Wool recorded 8 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 14% on the year before. It made up 2.8% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Wool
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Wool recorded 3 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 50% on the year before. It made up 1.1% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Wool
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Wool 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 down 50% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Wool
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Wool recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 50% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Wool
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Wool 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 0.4% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the towns closest to Wool, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Wool.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Wool |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wareham | 362 | 61.0 | +28% |
| Dorchester (Dorset) | 1,637 | 72.4 | +52% |
| Upton (Dorset) | 364 | 41.5 | -13% |
| Corfe Mullen | 372 | 34.8 | -27% |
| Weymouth | 5,342 | 99.0 | +108% |
| Blandford Forum | 762 | 55.2 | +16% |
| Poole | 10,536 | 72.6 | +52% |
| Swanage | 459 | 48.8 | +2% |
1 areas within Wool, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. West Purbeck had the highest rate (48.5 per 1,000) and West Purbeck the lowest (48.5). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Purbeck | Neighbourhood | 10,863 | 527 | 48.5 |
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 Wool over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Giddy Green Lane | 81 |
| On or near Back Lane | 17 |
| On or near High Street | 14 |
| On or near New Road | 11 |
| On or near Duncan Crescent | 9 |
| On or near Parking Area | 9 |
| On or near Cranesmoor Close | 8 |
| On or near Knowle Hill | 7 |
| On or near Rhine Road | 7 |
| On or near Burton Wood | 6 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Wool 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 | 91 | 32.0% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 76 | 26.8% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 61 | 21.5% |
| Under investigation | 26 | 9.2% |
| Status update unavailable | 8 | 2.8% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 7 | 2.5% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 4 | 1.4% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 3 | 1.1% |
| Local resolution | 3 | 1.1% |
| Offender given a caution | 2 | 0.7% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 2 | 0.7% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.4% |
Wool has an estimated population of 5,958. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Wool sits in decile 5.7, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Wool |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 23.4% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 59.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 17.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 60.4% |
| Social rented homes | 18.7% |
| Private rented homes | 20.8% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.7 |
Is Wool a safe place to live?
Wool recorded 47.7 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 Wool?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 107 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (91).
Is crime in Wool going up or down?
Recorded crime in Wool was down 16% on the year before: 284 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 339 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Wool?
Wool 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 Wool. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.