Dorset Life: Crime

In a national context, crime in Dorset is consistently very low. The County is the 9th lowest authority in England in relation to levels of crime.

However, total crime has risen this year compared to the previous two years. Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence crimes have both increased and along with Anti-Social Behaviour are a priority for Dorset’s Police. Crime levels are higher across the summer months in the County. Particular crime types, though, have fallen in Dorset recently with burglary, robbery and theft of a vehicle all reducing.

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Dorset Police Priorities

1. Anti-social Behaviour
2. Sexual Violence
3. Domestic Abuse

• In 2015-16 there were 9,071 incidents of anti-social behaviour in Dorset.
• 70% of these were classified as nuisance, 21% personal and 9% environmental.
• Weymouth has the highest rate of anti-social behaviour across the whole of Dorset.
• Melcombe Regis ward accounts for 13% of all antisocial behaviour incidents in the whole of Dorset.
• Sexual violence increases each year but many of the cases reported are historic and do not reflect how many incidents actually took place that month.
• There were 394 serious sexual offences in Dorset last year.
• There were 2,321 domestic abuse incidents in Dorset last year.

Other Crime

• Total crimes were higher this year than the last two years with each quarter being more than the same time last year.
• Purbeck is the district with the lowest crime rate…
• …and Weymouth and Portland has the highest.
• The summer consistently sees the most crime each year. This could be because of the better weather over summer, the holidays and the longer daylight hours.
• Burglary, theft of a vehicle and robbery have all decreased over the last three years.
• Last year 83% of residents surveyed across Dorset said that they felt safe walking alone after dark.
• Compared to other authorities, crime in Dorset is consistently low. Last year, Dorset ranked as the 9th lowest county based on total crimes.

Why does it matter:

Crime and fear of crime has a huge impact on the health and wellbeing of residents. By monitoring incidents and the reporting of crime, Dorset Police working in partnership with Dorset Community Safety can look at targeting resources effectively to help to diminish the occurrence and impact of crime on the residents of Dorset.

In comparison with the average levels of crime across the country, crime in Dorset is consistently low, however, Dorset Police and Dorset Community Safety Partnership have particular priority areas: Domestic Violence, Anti-social behaviour and Sexual Offences are all crime types that are either increasing or are considered to be so important in a local context that they are given greater significance.