What is the crime rate in West Dorset? 37 crimes per 1,000 residents
West Dorset had 3,938 recorded crimes in the 12 months to August 2026, which is 37 per 1,000 residents and Low for England and Wales. Crime fell 10.8% on the previous 12 months. The most common crime was violence and sexual offences.
- Recorded crimes
- 3,938
- Compared with England and Wales
- Low
- On the previous 12 months
- −10.8%
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 West DorsetWhat are the most common crimes in West Dorset?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common crime in West Dorset, with 1,901 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 |
| ShopliftingBelow England and Wales | 4.3 per 1,000 |
| Criminal damage and arsonBelow England and Wales | 3.6 per 1,000 |
| Other theftBelow England and Wales | 3.5 per 1,000 |
| Public orderBelow England and Wales | 2.4 per 1,000 |
| BurglaryBelow England and Wales | 1.8 per 1,000 |
| Vehicle crimeBelow England and Wales | 1.7 per 1,000 |
| DrugsBelow England and Wales | 0.8 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 |
| RobberyBelow England and Wales | 0.2 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 West Dorset?
Crime fell 10.8% on the previous 12 months. 3,938 crimes were recorded in the 12 months to August 2026, against 4,416 in the 12 months before.
Crimes and anti-social behaviour each month, September 2023 to August 2026
Which part of West Dorset has the lowest crime rate?
Broadwindsor has the lowest crime rate of the 18 areas of West Dorset, at 14 crimes per 1,000 residents. Bridport has the highest, at 69. Average house prices are shown alongside, so you can weigh crime against cost.
| Area | Per 1,000 | Band | Average price |
|---|---|---|---|
| BroadwindsorVery Low | 14 | Very Low | £339,561 |
| NetherburyVery Low | 15 | Very Low | £558,692 |
| BroadmayneVery Low | 16 | Very Low | £382,860 |
| CharminsterVery Low | 19 | Very Low | £379,811 |
| BothenhamptonVery Low | 21 | Very Low | £429,529 |
| BradpoleVery Low | 23 | Very Low | £398,222 |
| PuddletownVery Low | 23 | Very Low | £355,891 |
| SymondsburyVery Low | 24 | Very Low | £457,263 |
| CharmouthVery Low | 24 | Very Low | £563,000 |
| BeaminsterVery Low | 25 | Very Low | £356,090 |
| YetminsterVery Low | 25 | Very Low | £350,916 |
| Lyme RegisLow | 33 | Low | £530,449 |
| CrosswaysLow | 35 | Low | £347,013 |
| Maiden NewtonLow | 39 | Low | £314,666 |
| SherborneTypical | 43 | Typical | £356,517 |
| ChickerellTypical | 47 | Typical | £314,295 |
| DorchesterHigh | 56 | High | £330,840 |
| BridportHigh | 69 | High | £303,763 |
How does crime in West Dorset compare with nearby areas?
Crime rate in West Dorset compared with the 4 nearest other areas in Dorset.
West Dorset vs Weymouth and Portland
- West Dorset
- 37 per 1,000
- Weymouth and Portland
- 67 per 1,000
Open comparison
West Dorset vs North Dorset
- West Dorset
- 37 per 1,000
- North Dorset
- 35 per 1,000
Open comparison
West Dorset vs Purbeck
- West Dorset
- 37 per 1,000
- Purbeck
- 36 per 1,000
Open comparison
West Dorset vs East Dorset
- West Dorset
- 37 per 1,000
- East Dorset
- 31 per 1,000
Open comparison
Is West Dorset a safe place to live?
West Dorset had 37 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, which is Low among areas in England and Wales. Crime fell 10.8% 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 West Dorset?
Police recorded 1,295 incidents of anti-social behaviour in West 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 West Dorset?
More quick answers on house prices, sales, areas, green space and crime in West Dorset.
- What is the average house price in West Dorset?
- When did average house prices in West Dorset reach their peak?
- How many properties are being sold in West Dorset?
- What type of properties are sold in West Dorset?
- What price range do most homes sell for in West Dorset?
- What is the most expensive (and cheapest) area of West Dorset?
- How many parks and green spaces are in West Dorset?
- How do West 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 West Dorset dataset covers 5,361 postcodes.
Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. This data is licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.