Crime in Dorset
Recorded crime in Dorset is 0.6 times the England and Wales average. Over 5 years it has fallen 12%. Most of the harm comes from violence and sexual offences. Police data to August 2026.
389,947 residents in 223 neighbourhoods.
- Safety
- 7/10Low crime
- Living
- 5.1/10Fair
- 5-year change
- −12%fewer crimes
Crime over 5 years
Down 12% in 5 years Recorded crimes in Dorset, anti-social behaviour left out.
What is recorded
Crime severity: 0.6× the England and Wales average. 44 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents a year.
- Violence and sexual offences: 67% of the harm here
- Burglary: 15% of the harm here
- Other theft: 5% of the harm here
"Violence and sexual offences" is 67% of the harm here. It is a broad police category: most of these crimes are assaults without injury, harassment and threats, often indoors between people who know each other, and only a small part are sexual or serious violent offences. Police data does not say which, so each one is weighted at the England and Wales average for the category, which can overstate a quiet residential area.
Anti-social behaviour: 19 incidents per 1,000 residents a year, not scored. Not a crime, so it is not part of the Safety score.
Crime by type
Recorded crimes per 1,000 residents per year, most serious first, not counting anti-social behaviour.
| Type | Per 1,000 a year |
|---|---|
| Robbery | 0.2 |
| Burglary | 2.8 |
| Violence and sexual offences | 19.4 |
| Drugs | 1.1 |
| Possession of weapons | 0.3 |
| Other crime | 0.7 |
| Other theft | 4.7 |
| Theft from the person | 0.2 |
| Vehicle crime | 2.5 |
| Criminal damage and arson | 5.9 |
| Public order | 3.1 |
| Bicycle theft | 0.4 |
| Shoplifting | 2.9 |
Towns and cities in Dorset
Postcode districts in Dorset
Questions about crime in Dorset
- Is Dorset a safe place to live?
- Dorset scores 7 out of 10 for safety (low crime), compared with every neighbourhood in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
- Is crime going up or down in Dorset?
- Down 12% over 5 years, from 17,542 recorded crimes a year to 15,472.
- What is the most common crime in Dorset?
- The most common recorded crime is violence and sexual offences, about 19 per 1,000 residents a year.