52 Wards · England & WalesUpdated March 2026Source: Police.uk
Crime by Area in Dorset
Compare crime rates across all 52 wards in Dorset. Filter by crime type to find the safest and highest-crime areas. Click any ward to see specific hotspot locations.
Data Sources:Police.ukONS Census 2021HM Land Registry
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Top 10 Wards by Rate
All Wards — Ranked by Crime Rate
All crime types| # | Ward | Rate /1k | Count | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Melcombe Regis | 241.1 | 153 | chevron_right |
| 2 | Westham | 84.6 | 71 | chevron_right |
| 3 | Wimborne Minster | 78.3 | 64 | chevron_right |
| 4 | Shaftesbury Town | 67.0 | 59 | chevron_right |
| 5 | Sherborne West | 64.3 | 25 | chevron_right |
| 6 | Portland | 62.4 | 85 | chevron_right |
| 7 | Littlemoor & Preston | 61.0 | 45 | chevron_right |
| 8 | Radipole | 60.6 | 79 | chevron_right |
| 9 | Bridport | 56.5 | 81 | chevron_right |
| 10 | Winterborne North | 52.6 | 37 | chevron_right |
| 11 | Dorchester West | 51.9 | 71 | chevron_right |
| 12 | Dorchester Poundbury | 49.3 | 36 | chevron_right |
| 13 | Sturminster Newton | 48.9 | 24 | chevron_right |
| 14 | Rodwell & Wyke | 48.0 | 60 | chevron_right |
| 15 | Dorchester East | 47.3 | 37 | chevron_right |
| 16 | West Purbeck | 45.9 | 48 | chevron_right |
| 17 | Chickerell | 43.9 | 48 | chevron_right |
| 18 | Wareham | 43.6 | 68 | chevron_right |
| 19 | Blandford | 43.0 | 39 | chevron_right |
| 20 | St Leonards & St Ives | 41.8 | 28 | chevron_right |
| 21 | Swanage | 41.4 | 36 | chevron_right |
| 22 | Lyme & Charmouth | 39.4 | 18 | chevron_right |
| 23 | Ferndown North | 38.1 | 37 | chevron_right |
| 24 | Ferndown South | 37.6 | 22 | chevron_right |
| 25 | Upwey & Broadwey | 37.4 | 14 | chevron_right |
| 26 | Lytchett Matravers & Upton | 36.6 | 37 | chevron_right |
| 27 | Beaminster | 35.5 | 9 | chevron_right |
| 28 | Crossways | 34.3 | 18 | chevron_right |
| 29 | Verwood | 34.2 | 34 | chevron_right |
| 30 | Gillingham | 33.9 | 51 | chevron_right |
| 31 | Stour & Allen Vale | 33.9 | 13 | chevron_right |
| 32 | West Parley | 32.6 | 6 | chevron_right |
| 33 | Sherborne Rural | 31.6 | 14 | chevron_right |
| 34 | Stalbridge & Marnhull | 30.1 | 12 | chevron_right |
| 35 | Cranborne & Alderholt | 29.4 | 8 | chevron_right |
| 36 | Puddletown & Lower Winterborne | 29.2 | 22 | chevron_right |
| 37 | Eggardon | 29.2 | 13 | chevron_right |
| 38 | Corfe Mullen | 29.1 | 28 | chevron_right |
| 39 | Hill Forts & Upper Tarrants | 29.0 | 9 | chevron_right |
| 40 | Chesil Bank | 27.4 | 2 | chevron_right |
| 41 | Sherborne East | 26.5 | 12 | chevron_right |
| 42 | Yetminster | 25.5 | 11 | chevron_right |
| 43 | Cranborne Chase | 25.1 | 6 | chevron_right |
| 44 | Beacon | 24.2 | 12 | chevron_right |
| 45 | Blackmore Vale | 23.9 | 8 | chevron_right |
| 46 | South East Purbeck | 23.0 | 6 | chevron_right |
| 47 | West Moors & Three Legged Cross | 22.1 | 19 | chevron_right |
| 48 | Charminster St Mary's | 20.9 | 8 | chevron_right |
| 49 | Winterborne & Broadmayne | 19.1 | 7 | chevron_right |
| 50 | Marshwood Vale | 15.8 | 1 | chevron_right |
| 51 | Colehill & Wimborne Minster East | 13.8 | 16 | chevron_right |
| 52 | Chalk Valleys | 9.0 | 9 | chevron_right |
About this data: Crime rates are annualised per 1,000 residents using ONS Census 2021 population data. 3-month trend compares the most recent month against 3 months prior. Data covers England and Wales only and is sourced from police.uk monthly crime records. Full methodology →
Frequently Asked Questions
Which area of Dorset has the highest crime rate?
Melcombe Regis has the highest crime rate in Dorset, with 241.1 crimes per 1,000 residents annually. Click the ward name to see its specific hotspot locations.
Which is the safest ward in Dorset?
Chalk Valleys has the lowest crime rate among Dorset's wards, with 9.0 crimes per 1,000 residents annually.
How many wards does Dorset have?
Dorset has 52 electoral wards with crime data available from police.uk.