Crime and justice in Dorset
Unitary authorityThe south east of the South West. 391,036 people in 2,491 square kilometres.
13 layers about crime and justice for Dorset, each at the level its publisher released it, with its own date and source.
Crime and ASB by neighbourhood
Police recorded crime and outcomes (data.police.uk) · August 2026
Dorset’s 223 neighbourhoods range from 0 to 192.
Is Dorset safe? What police records show
In the 12 months to August 2026, police recorded crimes and anti-social behaviour in Dorset at a rate of 53.9 per 1,000 people.
That compares with 83.5 per 1,000 people across South West.
Across England as a whole, the recorded crime rate was 96.3 per 1,000 people.
In August 2026 alone, 2,228 cases of crime and anti-social behaviour were recorded in Dorset.
In the 12 months to August 2026, the most common types were violence and sexual offences (7,666), anti-social behaviour (5,593) and other crime (2,841).
A year earlier, the recorded crime rate in Dorset was 55.9 per 1,000 people.
Worked out by Open Index from police.uk crime records and ONS and NISRA population estimates.
Rates are per resident, so places that many people work in or visit, such as Westminster, the City of London and other city centres, have far higher rates than their residents alone would suggest.
Recorded crime rate
CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland onlyIn the 12 months to August 2026, police recorded crimes and anti-social behaviour in Dorset at a rate of 53.9 per 1,000 people.
That compares with 83.5 per 1,000 people across South West.
Worked out by Open Index from police.uk crime records and ONS and NISRA population estimates.
- Against South West
- 35% lower83.5 per 1,000
Crime and anti-social behaviour
CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland onlyAnti-social behaviour
CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland onlyBurglary
CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland onlyCriminal damage and arson
CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland onlyDrug offences
CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland onlyOther crime
CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland onlyRobbery
CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland onlyShoplifting
CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland onlyTheft from the person
CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland onlyVehicle crime
CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland onlyViolence and sexual offences
CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland onlyStreet-level crime
Map pointEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland onlyPublished as points, so there is no single figure for Dorset. The map shows each one.