Dorset Crime Rate June 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Dorset's crime rate in June 2024 stood at 5.2 per 1,000 residents, placing it 36.6% below the UK average of 8.2 per 1,000. This marked underperformance relative to the national context is most pronounced in violent crime categories, where violence and sexual offences occurred at a rate of 1.8 per 1,000—35% below the UK average. The area's crime profile is dominated by property-related offences, which account for 48.4% of total crimes (1,176 incidents), but these remain significantly lower than the UK norm. Anti-social behaviour (23.7%) and criminal damage and arson (7.6%) follow as the next most common categories, each also recording rates below the UK average. The seasonal context of June—a month marking the start of summer and the beginning of increased tourism in Dorset's coastal and rural areas—likely contributes to the elevated focus on property crimes, as transient populations and longer daylight hours may influence criminal activity patterns. However, the area's overall safety remains evident, with no major crime categories exceeding the UK average. This suggests that local policing strategies, combined with the area's geographic and demographic characteristics, are effectively mitigating risks that might otherwise be more pronounced in urban centres. The relatively low rates of vehicle crime (0.3 per 1,000) and shoplifting (0.3 per 1,000) further reinforce Dorset's distinct position compared to the national landscape, where these categories are typically more prevalent.

June 2024 saw a sharp 100% increase in both robbery and theft from the person, with incidents rising from seven to 14 each. This spike contrasts with the 21.4% decrease in shoplifting, which fell from 154 to 121. Vehicle crime also rose by 31.8%, increasing from 85 to 112, potentially linked to summer travel and increased road activity. Meanwhile, possession of weapons dropped by 23.5%, and other crime fell by 22.6%, indicating shifts in criminal focus. Violence and sexual offences, though still the most common category, remained 35% below the UK average at 1.8 per 1,000. This divergence highlights Dorset's distinct crime profile, where property-related offences are underrepresented compared to the national average. For residents, the rise in robbery and theft from the person serves as a clear indicator of areas requiring heightened vigilance, particularly during the summer season when tourism and outdoor activity increase.

Dorset's crime rate in June 2024 (5.2 per 1,000 residents) marked a 2.6% decline from the previous month's rate of 5.4 per 1,000, reflecting a continued downward trend. This reduction aligns with broader patterns observed in the area over recent months. On a daily basis, Dorset recorded approximately 68 crimes per day in June, a figure that contextualises the pace of criminal activity within the local authority. When scaled to the population, the monthly exposure reveals that one crime occurred for roughly every 191 residents over the course of the month—a rate significantly lower than the UK average. This statistic underscores the relatively safer environment in Dorset compared to the national context. The population of 389,947 further contextualises these figures, highlighting that the crime rate remains proportionally low even when accounting for the area's size. These metrics offer residents a tangible sense of the crime profile, reinforcing the effectiveness of local policing efforts and community engagement initiatives.