What is the crime rate in East Dorset? 31 crimes per 1,000 residents
East Dorset had 2,842 recorded crimes in the 12 months to August 2026, which is 31 per 1,000 residents and Low for England and Wales. Crime fell 14.3% on the previous 12 months. The most common crime was violence and sexual offences.
- Recorded crimes
- 2,842
- Compared with England and Wales
- Low
- On the previous 12 months
- −14.3%
Police-recorded crime in the 12 months to August 2026, per 1,000 residents (Census 2021). Anti-social behaviour is not included. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: police.uk. How we calculate this
All house prices in East DorsetWhat are the most common crimes in East Dorset?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common crime in East Dorset, with 1,316 recorded in the 12 months to August 2026 (14 per 1,000 residents). The England and Wales rate is 35 per 1,000.
| Crime type | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offencesBelow England and Wales | 14 per 1,000 |
| Criminal damage and arsonBelow England and Wales | 3.9 per 1,000 |
| Other theftBelow England and Wales | 2.8 per 1,000 |
| ShopliftingBelow England and Wales | 2.7 per 1,000 |
| Vehicle crimeBelow England and Wales | 1.9 per 1,000 |
| Public orderBelow England and Wales | 1.8 per 1,000 |
| BurglaryBelow England and Wales | 1.7 per 1,000 |
| Other crimeBelow England and Wales | 0.6 per 1,000 |
| DrugsBelow England and Wales | 0.6 per 1,000 |
| Bicycle theftBelow England and Wales | 0.2 per 1,000 |
| Possession of weaponsBelow England and Wales | 0.2 per 1,000 |
| RobberyBelow England and Wales | 0.1 per 1,000 |
| Theft from the personBelow England and Wales | 0.1 per 1,000 |
Tags mark crime types more than 10% above or below the England and Wales rate for the same type.
Is crime going up or down in East Dorset?
Crime fell 14.3% on the previous 12 months. 2,842 crimes were recorded in the 12 months to August 2026, against 3,315 in the 12 months before.
Crimes and anti-social behaviour each month, September 2023 to August 2026
Which part of East Dorset has the lowest crime rate?
Holt has the lowest crime rate of the 12 areas of East Dorset, at 19 crimes per 1,000 residents. Wimborne Minster has the highest, at 67. Average house prices are shown alongside, so you can weigh crime against cost.
| Area | Per 1,000 | Band | Average price |
|---|---|---|---|
| HoltVery Low | 19 | Very Low | £805,153 |
| West ParleyVery Low | 20 | Very Low | £483,277 |
| ColehillVery Low | 20 | Very Low | £535,847 |
| AlderholtVery Low | 22 | Very Low | £398,113 |
| Sturminster MarshallVery Low | 24 | Very Low | £447,725 |
| West MoorsVery Low | 24 | Very Low | £405,692 |
| Sixpenny Handley and PentridgeVery Low | 26 | Very Low | £323,875 |
| Corfe MullenVery Low | 26 | Very Low | £451,112 |
| VerwoodVery Low | 28 | Very Low | £409,885 |
| St. Leonards and St. IvesVery Low | 30 | Very Low | £597,276 |
| Ferndown TownLow | 33 | Low | £403,372 |
| Wimborne MinsterHigh | 67 | High | £381,459 |
How does crime in East Dorset compare with nearby areas?
Crime rate in East Dorset compared with the 4 nearest other areas in Dorset.
East Dorset vs North Dorset
- East Dorset
- 31 per 1,000
- North Dorset
- 35 per 1,000
Open comparison
East Dorset vs Purbeck
- East Dorset
- 31 per 1,000
- Purbeck
- 36 per 1,000
Open comparison
East Dorset vs Weymouth and Portland
- East Dorset
- 31 per 1,000
- Weymouth and Portland
- 67 per 1,000
Open comparison
East Dorset vs West Dorset
- East Dorset
- 31 per 1,000
- West Dorset
- 37 per 1,000
Open comparison
Is East Dorset a safe place to live?
East Dorset had 31 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, which is Low among areas in England and Wales. Crime fell 14.3% on the previous 12 months. The most common crime was violence and sexual offences. These are crimes reported to the police, not a safety rating. City-centre and retail areas have high rates because crimes against visitors and shops are counted, but only residents are in the population.
Crime rate is Low, on a scale from Very Low to Very High.
Low means the second-lowest fifth of areas in England and Wales by crime rate. The bands split every area we cover into fifths by crime rate, from Very Low to Very High.
How much anti-social behaviour is there in East Dorset?
Police recorded 1,107 incidents of anti-social behaviour in East Dorset in the 12 months to August 2026, or 12 per 1,000 residents. Anti-social behaviour is counted separately and is not included in the crime figures.
What else do people ask about East Dorset?
More quick answers on house prices, sales, areas, green space and crime in East Dorset.
- What is the average house price in East Dorset?
- When did average house prices in East Dorset reach their peak?
- How many properties are being sold in East Dorset?
- What type of properties are sold in East Dorset?
- What price range do most homes sell for in East Dorset?
- What is the most expensive (and cheapest) area of East Dorset?
- How many parks and green spaces are in East Dorset?
- How do East Dorset house prices compare with another area?
Where does this data come from?
Price information is from HM Land Registry, location boundaries are from OpenStreetMap, and households and population are from Nomis Census 2021 postcode estimates (21 March 2021). Parks and green space are from OS Open Greenspace. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Crime is from police.uk street-level data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: police.uk.
Last updated 31 October 2026 at 17:52 with the latest Land Registry data (September 2026). The East Dorset dataset covers 3,908 postcodes.
Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. This data is licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.