Ferndown Crime Rate

Ferndown is one of the safest towns in Dorset and the wider UK, with an overall crime rate of just 36.5 per 1,000 residents. This is significantly lower than the UK average of 91.7, earning the town an exceptional safety score of 92/100. Over the last 12 months, from December 2024 to November 2025, the crime trend has remained stable with a marginal 1.6% decrease. With a population of 15,332, Ferndown is a primarily residential area that benefits from a peaceful atmosphere and low levels of serious crime. While the statistics are very positive, understanding the local patterns of property crime can help residents maintain this high standard of security. The following sections provide a detailed breakdown of crime types and temporal trends for the area.

Crime Breakdown in Ferndown

In Ferndown, the most frequent reports are for violence and sexual offences, which account for 33.0% of all incidents. This is followed by anti-social behaviour at 25.4% and 'other theft' at 9.5%. These three categories represent the majority of the town's criminal activity, though it is important to note that the overall volumes are very low.

Property crime in Ferndown is remarkably low, with a rate of 12.5 per 1,000 people. This includes 28 burglaries, 28 vehicle crimes, and 35 shoplifting incidents over the past year. Because the total number of crimes is small, even a few incidents can influence the percentages. For homeowners, the primary concern is opportunistic theft and burglary, which together with vehicle crime and criminal damage, make up the property crime profile. The high safety score of 92/100 suggests that while these crimes do occur, they are infrequent, making Ferndown one of the more secure residential areas in the region.

Ferndown's crime trend is currently classified as stable, with a marginal 1.3% decrease in total offences over the last year. Monthly data from December 2024 to November 2025 shows very low crime rates throughout the year, fluctuating between a low of 2.0 per 1,000 in February and a peak of 4.3 in May.

This stability is a hallmark of a secure residential community. The small spike in May followed by a steady rate through the summer and autumn suggests that Ferndown does not suffer from the significant seasonal crime surges seen in more urban or coastal areas. For residents, this predictability is reassuring, indicating that safety levels are consistently maintained. The lack of any significant upward trend confirms that Ferndown remains one of the most stable and secure environments in the Dorset region.

How To Keep Safe in Ferndown

The most common crime in Ferndown is violence and sexual offences, though the actual number of incidents is very low (12.1 per 1,000). To stay safe, standard precautions apply: be aware of your surroundings when walking alone at night and stick to well-lit residential streets. The town's low-density layout means that personal safety is generally high, but staying alert in public spaces is always recommended.

Anti-social behaviour is the second most frequent issue (25.4%). Residents can help maintain the town's peaceful character by ensuring their properties are well-maintained and entryways are clearly visible, which discourages loitering. For homeowners, the night-time period is when burglary (22%) and vehicle crime (39%) are most likely to occur. To protect your property, ensure all vehicles are parked in garages or on well-lit driveways, and never leave valuables inside. Installing a proactive security system that monitors your boundaries while you sleep is the most effective way to prevent these overnight property crimes.

Crime in Ferndown exhibits distinct time-of-day patterns that are important for residents to understand. The morning and afternoon periods are primarily characterised by theft-related offences, with 'other theft' and shoplifting peaking between 12pm and 6pm, where theft makes up 54% of incidents. This is typical for a residential town with a small commercial centre.

As the day transitions into night, the crime profile shifts significantly. Between 12am and 6am, vehicle crime becomes the dominant issue, accounting for 39% of all reports during these hours. Burglary also reaches its highest period percentage at 22% during the night. This suggests that while daytime risks are largely opportunistic and retail-based, the night-time presents a specific threat to residential property and vehicles. Homeowners are advised to ensure that cars are secured and property boundaries are monitored overnight to mitigate these specific late-night risks.

Ferndown sits in a cluster of very safe Dorset settlements. When compared to nearby West Parley (30.8 crimes per 1,000) and West Moors (44.5), Ferndown’s rate of 36.5 is remarkably low for its size. It is significantly safer than more distant urban areas, though it has a slightly higher rate than the very small hamlet of Longham (0.0). For residents and prospective movers, Ferndown represents a premier choice for safety in the region, offering a secure environment that outperforms most other towns of a similar population density in the South West.

Despite Ferndown's low property crime rate of 12.5 per 1,000 residents, the impact of a burglary can be significant. Traditional security systems like Ring or Nest are reactive; they notify you after someone has already stepped onto your porch or entered your home.

For residents in a high-safety area like Ferndown, the goal is to prevent that first step. Proactive AI-powered security from scOS changes the dynamic by detecting threats at the property boundary. Using multi-camera intelligence, scOS can identify suspicious behaviour or unauthorised vehicles via DVLA verification before a crime is committed. By triggering autonomous responses—such as activating floodlights or audible alerts—it removes the anonymity that opportunistic thieves rely on. For Ferndown homeowners, moving from 'recording' to 'preventing' is the best way to ensure their property remains part of the town's low-crime statistics. Visible, intelligent security acts as a powerful deterrent, often causing criminals to bypass the home entirely.