Ferndown Crime Rate February 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Ferndown’s crime profile in February 2024 reveals a stark contrast between rising anti-social behaviour and declining violent crime, with the area’s overall rate of 2.5 per 1,000 residents remaining 64.8% below the UK average. This built-up area within Dorset, characterised by its relatively low population density and limited urban infrastructure, continues to exhibit a crime profile that diverges from the national trend. Anti-social behaviour, now the most common category (30.8% of all crimes), has surged by 140% compared to January, likely reflecting seasonal factors such as the pre-spring lull and reduced outdoor activity during colder weather. This increase may partly explain the shift in the crime mix, with property-related offences (15 incidents) slightly outpacing violent crimes (8 incidents), though both categories remain well below UK averages. The absence of significant spikes in burglary or vehicle crime — typically linked to high-traffic areas — suggests that Ferndown’s limited retail presence and lower footfall may contribute to its consistently low rates. However, the sharp rise in anti-social behaviour, which is 24% below the UK average for this category, underscores a need for localised interventions. The seasonal context of February, with its low outdoor activity and transition to warmer months, may also explain the 50% drop in shoplifting, as fewer tourists and shoppers frequent the area during this time.

February 2024 saw a 140% increase in anti-social behaviour, with incidents rising from 5 to 12 — the most significant jump among all categories. This surge, coupled with a 100% rise in both robbery and other crime, signals a shift in the crime mix, with non-violent, community-based issues dominating. Anti-social behaviour, now accounting for 30.8% of all crimes, remains 24% below the UK average of 1.1 per 1,000, yet its sharp increase contrasts with the 42.9% drop in violent crimes, which fell from 14 to 8. Shoplifting decreased by 50% (from 4 to 2), aligning with the pre-spring lull typical of winter months. However, the 100% increase in robbery and other crime raises concerns, as these categories are typically less frequent in low-population areas like Ferndown.

Ferndown’s crime rate in February 2024 (2.5 per 1,000 residents) reflects a 2.7% decrease from the previous month’s rate of 2.6 per 1,000, indicating a slight decline in overall criminal activity. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately one crime per day over the 29-day period, a figure that underscores the relatively low frequency of incidents in this built-up area. When considering the monthly exposure, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 393 residents, a statistic that contextualises the scale of incidents within the local population. This monthly aggregate suggests that, despite the notable increase in anti-social behaviour, the overall crime profile remains significantly below the UK average. The population-scaled perspective further highlights that residents face a lower risk of encountering crime compared to the national context, though the rise in specific categories warrants attention.