Lowest-crime areas in Dorset
Of Dorset's 48 neighbourhoods, Gillingham Outer, Bourton & Motcombe recorded the lowest crime rate, 26 crimes per 1,000 residents a year, and Weymouth Town, Melcombe Regis & Rodwell the highest, 231 crimes per 1,000 residents. 44 of 48 are below the England and Wales rate of 97 crimes per 1,000 residents. Figures cover October 2025 to September 2026.
Dorset neighbourhoods by crime rate
| # | Neighbourhood | Crimes per 1,000 | Compared with England and Wales | Most common |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gillingham Outer, Bourton & Motcombearound SP8 4LS | 26 | Low | Violence and sexual offences |
| 2 | Charlton Down, Cerne Abbas & Puddletownaround DT2 9TB | 27 | Low | Violence and sexual offences |
| 3 | Milborne, Winterborne & Okeford Fitzpainearound DT11 0AY | 27 | Low | Violence and sexual offences |
| 4 | Beaminster, Maiden Newton & Halstockaround DT8 3EL | 28 | Low | Violence and sexual offences |
| 5 | East Verwoodaround BH31 6XL | 29 | Low | Anti-social behaviour |
| 6 | Alderholt & Sixpenny Handleyaround SP6 3DS | 29 | Low | Violence and sexual offences |
| 7 | Owermoigne, Broadmayne & Winterbournearound DT2 8UN | 31 | Low | Violence and sexual offences |
| 8 | Yetminster, Bradford Abbas & Longburtonaround DT9 6RB | 31 | Low | Violence and sexual offences |
| 9 | Burton Bradstock & Chideockaround DT6 4BZ | 32 | Low | Violence and sexual offences |
| 10 | Parley & Hamprestonaround BH22 8RZ | 33 | Low | Violence and sexual offences |
| 11 | West Moorsaround BH22 0EQ | 33 | Low | Violence and sexual offences |
| 12 | Corfe Castle & Langton Matraversaround BH20 5EL | 33 | Low | Violence and sexual offences |
| 13 | Colehillaround BH21 2SP | 34 | Low | Violence and sexual offences |
| 14 | Bere Regis & Lytchett Matraversaround BH16 6BW | 35 | Low | Violence and sexual offences |
| 15 | Sturminster Marshall & Crichelaround BH21 4JF | 36 | Low | Violence and sexual offences |
| 16 | Lyme Regis, Charmouth & Marshwood Valearound DT7 3HH | 36 | Low | Violence and sexual offences |
| 17 | Corfe Mullenaround BH21 3TG | 38 | Low | Violence and sexual offences |
| 18 | St Leonardsaround BH24 2LH | 39 | Low | Violence and sexual offences |
| 19 | Dorchester Eastaround DT1 2TX | 40 | Low | Violence and sexual offences |
| 20 | Blandford Outer & Tarrantsaround DT11 7SF | 41 | Low | Violence and sexual offences |
| 21 | Ferndown West & Canford Bottomaround BH21 7LD | 42 | Low | Anti-social behaviour |
| 22 | Upton & Lytchett Minsteraround BH16 5DQ | 43 | Low | Violence and sexual offences |
| 23 | Child Okeford & Iwerne Minsteraround DT11 8QP | 44 | Low | Violence and sexual offences |
| 24 | West Verwoodaround BH31 6TQ | 44 | Low | Violence and sexual offences |
| 25 | Sturminster Newton & Stalbridgearound DT10 1NB | 46 | Low | Violence and sexual offences |
| 26 | Chickerell & Chesil Bankaround DT3 4AU | 48 | Low | Violence and sexual offences |
| 27 | Weymouth Westaround DT4 9PX | 48 | Low | Violence and sexual offences |
| 28 | Wyke Regisaround DT4 9AH | 50 | Low | Violence and sexual offences |
| 29 | Swanagearound BH19 1JU | 51 | Low | Violence and sexual offences |
| 30 | Bovington, Wool & Lulwortharound BH20 6HF | 52 | Low | Violence and sexual offences |
| 31 | Preston & Lodmooraround DT3 6HX | 55 | Low | Violence and sexual offences |
| 32 | Southwell & Westonaround DT5 2LA | 57 | Low | Violence and sexual offences |
| 33 | Bridport Northaround DT6 3AU | 57 | Moderate | Violence and sexual offences |
| 34 | Broadwey & Littlemooraround DT3 5QX | 58 | Moderate | Violence and sexual offences |
| 35 | Gillinghamaround SP8 4BA | 58 | Moderate | Violence and sexual offences |
| 36 | Ferndown Townaround BH22 9LQ | 58 | Moderate | Anti-social behaviour |
| 37 | Blandford Forum Townaround DT11 7HT | 60 | Moderate | Violence and sexual offences |
| 38 | Sherbornearound DT9 3NZ | 60 | Moderate | Violence and sexual offences |
| 39 | Wareham, Sandford & Holton Heatharound BH20 4JJ | 61 | Moderate | Violence and sexual offences |
| 40 | Shaftesburyaround SP7 8PQ | 73 | Moderate | Violence and sexual offences |
| 41 | Poundbury & Dorchester Westaround DT1 2JL | 74 | Moderate | Violence and sexual offences |
| 42 | Underhill & The Grovearound DT5 1NG | 83 | Moderate | Violence and sexual offences |
| 43 | Wimborne Minsteraround BH21 1AJ | 92 | High | Violence and sexual offences |
| 44 | Bridport South & West Bayaround DT6 3PB | 95 | High | Violence and sexual offences |
| 45 | Westham North & Radipolearound DT4 9SP | 98 | High | Violence and sexual offences |
| 46 | Westham Southaround DT4 0JE | 100 | High | Violence and sexual offences |
| 47 | Dorchester Northaround DT1 1RY | 117 | High | Violence and sexual offences |
| 48 | Weymouth Town, Melcombe Regis & Rodwellaround DT4 7DE | 231 | Very high | Anti-social behaviour |
Source: data.police.uk, October 2025 to September 2026, and ONS population estimates. Rates are per 1,000 residents, so town and city centres, with many visitors and few residents, rank high.
Questions
Which area of Dorset has the lowest crime rate?
Gillingham Outer, Bourton & Motcombe had the lowest recorded crime rate in Dorset from October 2025 to September 2026: 26 crimes per 1,000 residents a year, against 97 crimes per 1,000 residents across England and Wales.
Which area of Dorset has the highest crime rate?
Weymouth Town, Melcombe Regis & Rodwell had the highest recorded crime rate in Dorset from October 2025 to September 2026: 231 crimes per 1,000 residents a year. Busy centres often rank high because rates are per resident, not per visitor.
How is the crime rate worked out?
Crimes reported to police and published on data.police.uk over the last 12 months, divided by each neighbourhood's population from ONS estimates. Neighbourhoods are the ONS areas of about 7,000 people that the House of Commons Library has named.