What is the crime rate in North Dorset? 35 crimes per 1,000 residents
North Dorset had 2,494 recorded crimes in the 12 months to August 2026, which is 35 per 1,000 residents and Low for England and Wales. Crime fell 8.1% on the previous 12 months. The most common crime was violence and sexual offences.
- Recorded crimes
- 2,494
- Compared with England and Wales
- Low
- On the previous 12 months
- −8.1%
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 North DorsetWhat are the most common crimes in North Dorset?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common crime in North Dorset, with 1,188 recorded in the 12 months to August 2026 (17 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 | 17 per 1,000 |
| Criminal damage and arsonBelow England and Wales | 4.0 per 1,000 |
| Other theftBelow England and Wales | 3.2 per 1,000 |
| ShopliftingBelow England and Wales | 2.5 per 1,000 |
| Public orderBelow England and Wales | 2.3 per 1,000 |
| BurglaryBelow England and Wales | 2.2 per 1,000 |
| Vehicle crimeBelow England and Wales | 1.7 per 1,000 |
| Other crimeBelow England and Wales | 1.1 per 1,000 |
| DrugsBelow England and Wales | 0.8 per 1,000 |
| Possession of weaponsBelow England and Wales | 0.3 per 1,000 |
| RobberyBelow England and Wales | 0.2 per 1,000 |
| Theft from the personBelow England and Wales | 0.1 per 1,000 |
| Bicycle theftBelow 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 North Dorset?
Crime fell 8.1% on the previous 12 months. 2,494 crimes were recorded in the 12 months to August 2026, against 2,715 in the 12 months before.
Crimes and anti-social behaviour each month, September 2023 to August 2026
Which part of North Dorset has the lowest crime rate?
Tarrant Monkton has the lowest crime rate of the 17 areas of North Dorset, at 13 crimes per 1,000 residents. Blandford St. Mary has the highest, at 91. Average house prices are shown alongside, so you can weigh crime against cost.
| Area | Per 1,000 | Band | Average price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tarrant MonktonVery Low | 13 | Very Low | £1,003,333 |
| MotcombeVery Low | 15 | Very Low | £412,000 |
| BryanstonVery Low | 17 | Very Low | £363,166 |
| PimperneVery Low | 18 | Very Low | £404,583 |
| Milborne St. AndrewVery Low | 18 | Very Low | £402,153 |
| Hazelbury BryanVery Low | 18 | Very Low | £470,916 |
| Child OkefordVery Low | 19 | Very Low | £414,333 |
| MarnhullVery Low | 22 | Very Low | £466,581 |
| StalbridgeLow | 31 | Low | £408,609 |
| Charlton MarshallLow | 33 | Low | £388,366 |
| GillinghamLow | 35 | Low | £287,321 |
| Okeford FitzpaineLow | 38 | Low | £376,269 |
| ShillingstoneLow | 41 | Low | £414,947 |
| Sturminster NewtonLow | 41 | Low | £307,089 |
| Blandford ForumTypical | 42 | Typical | £286,608 |
| ShaftesburyTypical | 54 | Typical | £323,468 |
| Blandford St. MaryVery High | 91 | Very High | £335,266 |
How does crime in North Dorset compare with nearby areas?
Crime rate in North Dorset compared with the 4 nearest other areas in Dorset.
North Dorset vs East Dorset
- North Dorset
- 35 per 1,000
- East Dorset
- 31 per 1,000
Open comparison
North Dorset vs Purbeck
- North Dorset
- 35 per 1,000
- Purbeck
- 36 per 1,000
Open comparison
North Dorset vs West Dorset
- North Dorset
- 35 per 1,000
- West Dorset
- 37 per 1,000
Open comparison
North Dorset vs Weymouth and Portland
- North Dorset
- 35 per 1,000
- Weymouth and Portland
- 67 per 1,000
Open comparison
Is North Dorset a safe place to live?
North Dorset had 35 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, which is Low among areas in England and Wales. Crime fell 8.1% 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 North Dorset?
Police recorded 837 incidents of anti-social behaviour in North 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 North Dorset?
More quick answers on house prices, sales, areas, green space and crime in North Dorset.
- What is the average house price in North Dorset?
- When did average house prices in North Dorset reach their peak?
- How many properties are being sold in North Dorset?
- What type of properties are sold in North Dorset?
- What price range do most homes sell for in North Dorset?
- What is the most expensive (and cheapest) area of North Dorset?
- How many parks and green spaces are in North Dorset?
- How do North 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 North Dorset dataset covers 3,222 postcodes.
Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. This data is licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.