Crime Rate in Dorchester West: Trends, Hotspots

Overview of Crime in Dorchester West

The total recorded crimes in Dorchester West, Dorset, UK in May 2025 are around 64 as per the recent police data. This equates to a Dorchester West crime rate of 2.53 per 1,000 population.

It's important to note that this crime data is based on the Geographic Boundry data provided by the ONS around Dorchester West, encompassing approximately 25,254 residents.

Most occured crime Types

The most prevalent crimes in the area during May were:

  • Violence and sexual offences: (19) incidents (18.75% increase)
  • Shoplifting: (13) incidents (30.00% increase)
  • Anti-social behaviour: (10) incidents (-16.67% decrease)
Dorchester West Crime Hotspots

The surrounding areas of below locations have emerged as crime hotspots,

  • High East Street with total crimes: 7
  • South Street with total crimes: 7
  • Cambridge Road with total crimes: 6

How safe is Dorchester West?

To understand the safety of Dorchester West, we need to analyze Dorchester West crime statistics in relation to regional averages. Lets examine the available data and provide a balanced assessment.

  • Relative to Dorset:

    • In 2024, Dorchester West reported a higher crime volume than the Dorset average, with 980 crimes compared to 476. This indicates a potentially challenging safety environment in the region for the year. Furthermore, Dorchester West witnessed more crimes than 48 out of 51 other areas in the Dorset.

    • In 2023, Dorchester West experienced a greater number of crimes than the Dorset average, with 1,017 crimes compared to 446. This indicates a higher crime burden for the area in the region during this period. Furthermore, Dorchester West witnessed more crimes than 49 out of 51 other areas in the Dorset.

  • Overall Assessment:

    • Compared to other areas in Dorset, Dorchester West has a higher crime rate and is considered more dangerous in 2024.

    • The trend in crime rates suggests Positive changes in overall safety.

Dorchester West Crime Statstics

In May 2025 the Dorchester West has recorded 64 crimes with crime rate of 2.53 ranking 10th out of 51 in the Dorset, UK

In 2024, the total Dorchester West crimes were 980. The crime rate of Dorchester West in 2024 was 38.80 (year) or 3.23 (month) ranking it 4 dangerous area in the Dorset.

In 2023, the total crimes in Dorchester West were around 1,017 crimes with yearly crime rate of 40.27 (year) or 3.36 (month) ranking 3 most dangerous area in the Dorset.

AreaMay 202520242023
CrimesRank (Dorchester West)CrimesRank (Dorchester West)CrimesRank (Dorchester West)
Melcombe Regis177 12,265 12,048 1
Portland92 31,209 21,022 2
Bridport113 21,101 3986 4
Wimborne Minster83 4881 7793 8
Westham76 6920 5928 5
Shaftesbury Town78 5613 16615 18
Rodwell & Wyke63 11884 6896 6
Gillingham48 13724 11894 7
Radipole71 7835 8678 12
Littlemoor & Preston70 8784 10697 11
Swanage44 19571 19774 9
Blandford56 12820 9746 10
Ferndown North67 9514 20483 20
Lytchett Matravers & Upton45 18705 12623 17
Wareham43 20695 13651 13
West Purbeck40 22653 15643 14
Chickerell48 15686 14635 15
Dorchester East48 14584 17535 19
Verwood46 17582 18633 16
Beacon48 16335 28327 24
Blackmore Vale31 27307 29407 21
Sherborne West38 23425 21246 31
St Leonards & St Ives41 21371 26283 29
Ferndown South32 25410 23392 22
Dorchester Poundbury35 24417 22283 27
West Moors & Three Legged Cross31 26390 25359 23
Corfe Mullen30 28398 24283 28
Lyme & Charmouth20 34369 27321 25
Charminster St Mary's11 45280 31316 26
Upwey & Broadwey23 29190 41168 42
Winterborne North16 40273 32259 30
Sturminster Newton21 33297 30181 38
Cranborne & Alderholt22 30203 36207 33
Hill Forts & Upper Tarrants22 31198 38164 44
Sherborne East16 41233 33211 32
Cranborne Chase21 32128 50103 50
Eggardon20 35230 34196 34
Crossways10 49167 47196 35
Puddletown & Lower Winterborne14 43214 35180 39
Yetminster13 44175 42190 36
Stalbridge & Marnhull19 36173 44153 48
Colehill & Wimborne Minster East15 42191 40185 37
Stour & Allen Vale17 39200 37154 47
Sherborne Rural19 37193 39174 40
Beaminster18 38174 43163 45
South East Purbeck9 50167 46169 41
West Parley11 46167 45165 43
Chesil Bank10 47135 49162 46
Winterborne & Broadmayne10 48150 48132 49
Marshwood Vale2 5280 5292 51
Chalk Valleys4 5196 5166 52

Dorchester West Crime Map

Detailed Crime Data Analysis

Monthly Trends

In May 2025, Violence and sexual offences dominated crime reports (19 incidents), followed by Shoplifting also remained a significant concern (13 incidents).

Recorded incidents of Violence and sexual offences were the most frequent (16 incidents) were the most common in April 2025, with There was a large number of incidents involving Anti-social behaviour (12 incidents) also being high.

For March 2025 , the most reported crimes were Most crimes reported were Shoplifting (20 incidents) and then Violence and sexual offences showed a substantial number of incidents (16 incidents).

February 2025 crime data shows Violence and sexual offences saw the largest number of reported crimes with 23 incidents, and Shoplifting was another prevalent crime category with 13 incidents.

During January 2025, The highest incident rate was for Violence and sexual offences (23 reports) and Shoplifting incidents were also notably high (11 cases).

December 2024 crime data shows Shoplifting saw the largest number of reported crimes with 11 incidents, and Anti-social behaviour was another prevalent crime category with 11 incidents.

During November 2024, The highest incident rate was for Violence and sexual offences (24 reports) and Shoplifting incidents were also notably high (20 cases).

In October 2024, Violence and sexual offences dominated crime reports (34 incidents), followed by Anti-social behaviour also remained a significant concern (16 incidents).

Recorded incidents of Violence and sexual offences were the most frequent (29 incidents) were the most common in September 2024, with There was a large number of incidents involving Anti-social behaviour (11 incidents) also being high.

For August 2024 , the most reported crimes were Most crimes reported were Violence and sexual offences (28 incidents) and then Anti-social behaviour showed a substantial number of incidents (26 incidents).

July 2024 crime data shows Anti-social behaviour saw the largest number of reported crimes with 24 incidents, and Violence and sexual offences was another prevalent crime category with 24 incidents.

Crime TypeCountCrime RateChange

Crime by Type

A total of 53 Criminal damage and arson incidents were recorded over 11 month period, averaging 4.82 incidents per month. October 2024 saw the highest number of Criminal damage and arson incidents with 9 reported cases.

MonthCount
May 20252
April 20254
March 20251
February 20254
January 20252
December 20248
November 20247
October 20249
September 20244
August 20246
July 20246

A total of 16 Drugs incidents were recorded over 11 month period, averaging 2.00 incidents per month. July 2024 saw the highest number of Drugs incidents with 4 reported cases.

MonthCount
May 20253
April 20252
March 20252
December 20242
November 20241
October 20241
August 20241
July 20244

A total of 49 Other theft incidents were recorded over 11 month period, averaging 4.45 incidents per month. August 2024 saw the highest number of Other theft incidents with 8 reported cases.

MonthCount
May 20256
April 20253
March 20253
February 20254
January 20251
December 20246
November 20247
October 20245
September 20243
August 20248
July 20243

A total of 45 Public order incidents were recorded over 11 month period, averaging 4.09 incidents per month. January 2025 saw the highest number of Public order incidents with 6 reported cases.

MonthCount
May 20254
April 20253
March 20253
February 20253
January 20256
December 20241
November 20245
October 20244
September 20246
August 20244
July 20246

A total of 246 Violence and sexual offences incidents were recorded over 11 month period, averaging 22.36 incidents per month. October 2024 saw the highest number of Violence and sexual offences incidents with 34 reported cases.

MonthCount
May 202519
April 202516
March 202516
February 202523
January 202523
December 202410
November 202424
October 202434
September 202429
August 202428
July 202424

A total of 154 Anti-social behaviour incidents were recorded over 11 month period, averaging 14.00 incidents per month. August 2024 saw the highest number of Anti-social behaviour incidents with 26 reported cases.

MonthCount
May 202510
April 202512
March 202515
February 20257
January 20258
December 202411
November 202414
October 202416
September 202411
August 202426
July 202424

A total of 16 Other crime incidents were recorded over 11 month period, averaging 1.78 incidents per month. January 2025 saw the highest number of Other crime incidents with 3 reported cases.

MonthCount
May 20252
April 20251
February 20251
January 20253
December 20242
November 20242
October 20242
September 20241
July 20242

A total of 135 Shoplifting incidents were recorded over 11 month period, averaging 12.27 incidents per month. March 2025 saw the highest number of Shoplifting incidents with 20 reported cases.

MonthCount
May 202513
April 202510
March 202520
February 202513
January 202511
December 202411
November 202420
October 202411
September 20245
August 20247
July 202414

A total of 4 Robbery incidents were recorded over 11 month period, averaging 2.00 incidents per month. May 2025 saw the highest number of Robbery incidents with 2 reported cases.

MonthCount
May 20252
July 20242

A total of 5 Theft from the person incidents were recorded over 11 month period, averaging 1.00 incidents per month. May 2025 saw the highest number of Theft from the person incidents with 1 reported cases.

MonthCount
May 20251
March 20251
January 20251
December 20241
November 20241

A total of 4 Bicycle theft incidents were recorded over 11 month period, averaging 1.33 incidents per month. July 2024 saw the highest number of Bicycle theft incidents with 2 reported cases.

MonthCount
May 20251
April 20251
July 20242

A total of 41 Vehicle crime incidents were recorded over 11 month period, averaging 4.56 incidents per month. November 2024 saw the highest number of Vehicle crime incidents with 10 reported cases.

MonthCount
May 20251
April 20252
March 20252
December 20245
November 202410
October 202410
September 20242
August 20244
July 20245

A total of 5 Possession of weapons incidents were recorded over 11 month period, averaging 1.00 incidents per month. April 2025 saw the highest number of Possession of weapons incidents with 1 reported cases.

MonthCount
April 20251
January 20251
December 20241
October 20241
September 20241

A total of 17 Burglary incidents were recorded over 11 month period, averaging 2.43 incidents per month. November 2024 saw the highest number of Burglary incidents with 6 reported cases.

MonthCount
March 20253
February 20251
November 20246
October 20241
September 20242
August 20243
July 20241

High Crime Locations Dorchester West in May 2025

A detailed breakdown of crime incidents by location within the Dorchester West postcode area is presented below.

1. High East Street (Map)
Total7
Criminal damage and arson2
Violence and sexual offences2
Drugs1
Other theft1
Public order1
2. South Street (Map)
Total7
Shoplifting6
Anti-social behaviour1
3. Cambridge Road (Map)
Total6
Violence and sexual offences4
Robbery2
4. Alexandra Terrace (Map)
Total4
Shoplifting4
5. Supermarket (Map)
Total4
Drugs2
Other crime1
Violence and sexual offences1
6. New Street (Map)
Total4
Public order2
Violence and sexual offences2
7. Olga Road (Map)
Total3
Anti-social behaviour3
8. Remus Close (Map)
Total3
Anti-social behaviour1
Public order1
Violence and sexual offences1
9. High West Street (Map)
Total2
Anti-social behaviour1
Other crime1
10. Hawthorn Close (Map)
Total2
Violence and sexual offences2

  • Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2021. This data is licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  • Contains Office for National Statistics data licensed under the Open Government Licence v.3.0
  • Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.