What is the crime rate in Purbeck? 36 crimes per 1,000 residents
Purbeck had 1,667 recorded crimes in the 12 months to August 2026, which is 36 per 1,000 residents and Low for England and Wales. Crime fell 3.9% on the previous 12 months. The most common crime was violence and sexual offences.
- Recorded crimes
- 1,667
- Compared with England and Wales
- Low
- On the previous 12 months
- −3.9%
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 PurbeckWhat are the most common crimes in Purbeck?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common crime in Purbeck, with 817 recorded in the 12 months to August 2026 (18 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 | 18 per 1,000 |
| Other theftBelow England and Wales | 4.2 per 1,000 |
| Criminal damage and arsonBelow England and Wales | 3.4 per 1,000 |
| Public orderBelow England and Wales | 2.4 per 1,000 |
| ShopliftingBelow England and Wales | 2.2 per 1,000 |
| Vehicle crimeBelow England and Wales | 2.2 per 1,000 |
| BurglaryBelow England and Wales | 2.2 per 1,000 |
| DrugsBelow England and Wales | 0.7 per 1,000 |
| Other crimeBelow England and Wales | 0.5 per 1,000 |
| Possession of weaponsBelow England and Wales | 0.3 per 1,000 |
| Bicycle theftBelow England and Wales | 0.2 per 1,000 |
| Theft from the personBelow England and Wales | 0.1 per 1,000 |
| RobberyBelow 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 Purbeck?
Crime fell 3.9% on the previous 12 months. 1,667 crimes were recorded in the 12 months to August 2026, against 1,734 in the 12 months before.
Crimes and anti-social behaviour each month, September 2023 to August 2026
Which part of Purbeck has the lowest crime rate?
Arne has the lowest crime rate of the 9 areas of Purbeck, at 24 crimes per 1,000 residents. Wareham Town has the highest, at 44. Average house prices are shown alongside, so you can weigh crime against cost.
| Area | Per 1,000 | Band | Average price |
|---|---|---|---|
| ArneVery Low | 24 | Very Low | £643,150 |
| Corfe CastleVery Low | 24 | Very Low | £613,812 |
| Lytchett MatraversVery Low | 29 | Very Low | £447,625 |
| Lytchett Minster and UptonLow | 33 | Low | £330,197 |
| Bere RegisLow | 37 | Low | £378,906 |
| WoolLow | 38 | Low | £338,851 |
| SwanageLow | 39 | Low | £419,673 |
| Wareham St. MartinLow | 41 | Low | £409,812 |
| Wareham TownTypical | 44 | Typical | £356,933 |
How does crime in Purbeck compare with nearby areas?
Crime rate in Purbeck compared with the 4 nearest other areas in Dorset.
Purbeck vs East Dorset
- Purbeck
- 36 per 1,000
- East Dorset
- 31 per 1,000
Open comparison
Purbeck vs Weymouth and Portland
- Purbeck
- 36 per 1,000
- Weymouth and Portland
- 67 per 1,000
Open comparison
Purbeck vs North Dorset
- Purbeck
- 36 per 1,000
- North Dorset
- 35 per 1,000
Open comparison
Purbeck vs West Dorset
- Purbeck
- 36 per 1,000
- West Dorset
- 37 per 1,000
Open comparison
Is Purbeck a safe place to live?
Purbeck had 36 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, which is Low among areas in England and Wales. Crime fell 3.9% 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 Purbeck?
Police recorded 554 incidents of anti-social behaviour in Purbeck 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 Purbeck?
More quick answers on house prices, sales, areas, green space and crime in Purbeck.
- What is the average house price in Purbeck?
- When did average house prices in Purbeck reach their peak?
- How many properties are being sold in Purbeck?
- What type of properties are sold in Purbeck?
- What price range do most homes sell for in Purbeck?
- What is the most expensive (and cheapest) area of Purbeck?
- How many parks and green spaces are in Purbeck?
- How do Purbeck 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 Purbeck dataset covers 2,093 postcodes.
Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. This data is licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.