Puddletown Crime Rate

Crime statistics for Puddletown, Dorset, from January 2025 to December 2025, reveal a crime rate of 25.4 per 1,000 residents annually. This is significantly lower than the UK average of 91.6 per 1,000, suggesting a relatively safe environment. However, understanding the specific types of crimes and trends is crucial for community safety. While the overall rate is low, it's important to examine the distribution of offences and the factors that may contribute to them. The data shows a decreasing trend in crime, offering a degree of reassurance, but continued vigilance and preventative measures remain important.

The most recent data for Puddletown, covering January 2025 to December 2025, reveals that violence and sexual offences are the most prevalent crime type, accounting for 43.9% of recorded incidents (29 crimes). Anti-social behaviour follows closely, representing 15.2% of the total (10 crimes). Criminal damage and arson, along with other theft, each contribute 12.1% (8 crimes each), while public order offences represent a smaller proportion at 6.1% (4 crimes). Burglary and vehicle crime are less frequent, with 3 recorded incidents each. The overall property crime rate in Puddletown stands at 8.5 per 1,000 residents annually. This demonstrates a range of criminal activities within the area, highlighting the need for community vigilance and targeted preventative measures.

Crime in Puddletown has shown a welcome decrease of 9.6% year-on-year. This decline is reflected in the monthly data, which demonstrates fluctuations but an overall downward trend. For example, crime levels peaked in April 2025 at 3.1 per 1,000, while December 2025 saw a reduction to 2.3 per 1,000. This positive trend offers reassurance to residents and suggests the effectiveness of ongoing community safety initiatives. However, continued monitoring and proactive measures are vital to sustain this downward trajectory.

How To Keep Safe in Puddletown

Given that violence and sexual offences are the most prevalent crime in Puddletown, consider the following advice: always be aware of your surroundings, particularly when walking alone. Report any suspicious activity to the authorities promptly. Secure your property well, including doors and windows, and consider installing motion-activated lighting. Be mindful of anti-social behaviour and avoid confrontation; instead, report incidents to the police. Finally, if you own a vehicle, park in well-lit areas and ensure your vehicle is locked and alarmed.

Crime patterns in Puddletown reveal a varied distribution throughout the day. Burglary incidents are most frequent during the afternoon (12pm - 6pm), representing 12% of cases. Theft tends to be more prevalent during commercial hours, particularly in the afternoon (57%), and during the evening (24%). Vehicle crime exhibits a higher incidence during the night (12am - 6am), accounting for 25% of incidents. Violence and sexual offences, while less frequent overall, are somewhat concentrated during the evening hours (6pm - 12am). These patterns suggest a need for targeted preventative measures during specific times and locations.

Puddletown’s crime rate of 25.4 per 1,000 residents is notably lower than some neighbouring areas. Villages like Tolpuddle and Piddlehinton report zero crimes, while Stinsford, Lower Bockhampton and Kingston Maurward also show no recorded incidents. However, Milborne St Andrew, a slightly larger village nearby, registers a higher crime rate of 30.2 per 1,000. This disparity highlights the varied safety profiles across the region and suggests that local factors influence crime rates.

Traditional CCTV systems in Puddletown offer a visual record of incidents, but often only after they’ve occurred. Reading crime statistics is one thing; actually stopping threats at your property line is another. scOS, an AI-powered home security operating system, takes a proactive approach. Unlike conventional systems that simply record, scOS uses multi-camera intelligence to monitor your property boundary, instantly verifying vehicles with DVLA data and learning your family’s routines to filter out genuine threats. The visible presence of scOS acts as a powerful deterrent, often prompting potential intruders to move on within those critical first 60 seconds – the timeframe burglars typically decide whether to proceed. It’s about preventing the crime, not just documenting it.