Ferndown Crime Rate January 2026 | Monthly Statistics

Ferndown's January 2026 crime rate of 2.4 per 1,000 residents marked a continued divergence from the UK average, which stands at 6.8 per 1,000—a gap of 64.7%. This figure reflects a built-up area within Dorset that has consistently maintained lower crime levels compared to national benchmarks. Violence and sexual offences remained the most prevalent category, accounting for 37.8% of all reported crimes, though these incidents were 64% below the UK average for this category. Anti-social behaviour followed closely, comprising 18.9% of crimes, and also fell significantly below the national rate. The seasonal context of January—marked by shorter days and post-holiday dynamics—likely contributed to the overall lower crime rate, as reduced retail footfall and fewer outdoor activities may have curtailed opportunities for certain types of offences. Property crimes, including other theft and criminal damage, accounted for 26.2% of incidents, but these remained well below the UK average for similar categories. Ferndown's data suggests a community where crime is not only infrequent but also lower in violent and property-related categories compared to the UK as a whole. This pattern may be influenced by the area's character as a smaller, more tightly knit built-up area within a rural county, where local engagement and community policing efforts could play a role in maintaining lower crime levels. The month's data also highlights the absence of significant spikes in major categories, with the exception of drug-related offences, which saw a tripling in incidents—a trend that may warrant further local analysis.

January 2026 saw a marked reduction in shoplifting, with incidents dropping from five to one—an 80% decrease. This decline may partly explain the overall drop in property-related crimes, which fell from 14 to 11. Meanwhile, violent crimes remained the most common category, accounting for 37.8% of all incidents, though they remained 64% below the UK average for violence and sexual offences. A notable shift occurred in drug-related offences, which tripled from one to three—an increase that could reflect seasonal changes or unmet demand during the post-holiday period. Bicycle theft also rose sharply, doubling from zero to one incident, a figure that contrasts with the UK average where this category is 100% above the national rate. Anti-social behaviour, though still the second most common crime, saw a 36.4% reduction, suggesting possible seasonal effects as shorter days and post-holiday dynamics may reduce public gatherings.

Ferndown's crime rate in January 2026 stood at 2.4 per 1,000 residents, a 5.1% decrease from the previous month's 2.5 per 1,000. This continued downward trend aligns with the area's historically low crime profile compared to the UK average. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately one reported crime per day over the 31-day period, reflecting a sparse distribution of incidents. When scaled to the local population, this equated to one crime occurring for roughly every 414 residents over the course of the month—a figure that underscores the relatively low level of criminal activity in Ferndown. While the UK average sees a much higher frequency of incidents, Ferndown's data suggests a community where crime remains infrequent and manageable. This monthly exposure figure provides context for residents, illustrating that the likelihood of encountering a crime is significantly lower than in larger urban centres.