Southwell (Dorset) Crime Rate

Crime Statistics in Southwell (Dorset)

Southwell (Dorset), an urban settlement with a population of 2,082, reports an overall crime rate of 34.1 per 1,000 people per year. This figure is considerably lower than the UK average crime rate of 93.1 per 1,000, positioning Southwell (Dorset) as a notably safer community. The area's safety score is 89 out of 100, which is significantly above the UK average of 78, further reinforcing its status as a secure place to live. In terms of recent trends, Southwell (Dorset) has experienced a slight increase in its overall crime rate, with a 10.9% rise year-over-year. This modest upward trend suggests a need for continued vigilance. This report provides a detailed overview of crime types, trends, and safety advice pertinent to Southwell (Dorset).

Crime Breakdown in Southwell (Dorset)

In Southwell (Dorset), Violence and sexual offences are overwhelmingly the most common crime type, accounting for 77.5% of all incidents, with 55 crimes (26.4 per 1,000 residents). Other theft is the second most frequent, making up 8.4% with 6 incidents (2.9 per 1,000), followed by Public order offences at 4.2% with 3 incidents (1.4 per 1,000).

Property-related crime in Southwell (Dorset), which includes robbery, criminal damage and arson, and other theft, collectively stands at 4.3% of all crimes. Specifically, there was 1 robbery (0.5 per 1,000), 2 criminal damage and arson incidents (1.0 per 1,000), and 6 other thefts (2.9 per 1,000). The combined property crime rate of 4.3 per 1,000 is substantially lower than the UK average property crime rate of 32.9 per 1,000, indicating a very low risk for homeowners. Despite the low overall crime, understanding these specific categories helps residents take targeted preventative measures.

Crime Trends in Southwell (Dorset)

Southwell (Dorset) has experienced an increasing trend in its crime statistics, with a 10.9% rise in the overall crime rate year-over-year. This modest increase suggests a need for continued vigilance among residents. Looking at the monthly trend data, crime rates per 1,000 residents have shown fluctuations. Rates were 3.4 in November 2024 and December, dipping to 1.4 in January 2025, and then rising to a peak of 5.8 in May 2025. Following this, rates returned to moderate levels, such as 1.0 in August and 2.4 in October 2025. Despite these monthly changes, the overall year-on-year increase suggests a need for continued community and police efforts to address the rising crime rates in Southwell (Dorset).

How To Keep Safe in Southwell (Dorset)

Given that Violence and sexual offences are overwhelmingly the most prevalent crime type in Southwell (Dorset), residents are advised to prioritise personal safety and awareness in their daily lives.

1. Increase Situational Awareness: Always be aware of your surroundings, especially when walking alone or in dimly lit areas. Avoid distractions like mobile phones.
2. Travel in Groups: Where possible, especially during evenings or late nights, travel with friends or family. There is safety in numbers, which can deter potential offenders.
3. Report Suspicious Behaviour: If you notice any suspicious individuals or activities, report them to the police immediately. Early intervention can prevent more serious incidents.
4. Secure Your Home: While these crimes are often personal, ensuring your home is secure can prevent related issues like criminal damage or opportunistic entry.
5. Community Engagement: Participate in local Neighbourhood Watch groups or community forums to collectively address and mitigate local safety concerns.

Time Patterns of Crime in Southwell (Dorset)

Crime patterns in Southwell (Dorset) show distinct variations across different times of the day. During the morning hours (6am-12pm), theft-related offences are overwhelmingly dominant, accounting for 92% of crimes, followed by 'Other' crimes at 8%. The afternoon period (12pm-6pm) also sees theft as the highest category at 93%, with 'Other' crimes at 7%. In the evening (6pm-12am), theft remains high at 74%, while 'Other' crimes rise to 26%. During the night (12am-6am), theft is still the most prevalent at 68%, followed by 'Other' crimes at 32%. These patterns highlight a persistent threat of theft throughout the day and night, suggesting residents should be vigilant about securing their belongings.

Nearby Areas Comparison

To understand Southwell (Dorset)'s crime rate in a broader context, it's beneficial to compare it with similar nearby settlements. Southwell (Dorset) reports a crime rate of 34.1 per 1,000 people per year. In comparison, Weston (Dorset) and Grove (Dorset) both have significantly higher crime rates, at 80.4 and 95.5 per 1,000 respectively, indicating less safe environments. Fortuneswell also has a higher crime rate of 70.7 per 1,000. Chickerell has a higher crime rate of 52.3 per 1,000. These comparisons highlight that Southwell (Dorset) is a relatively safe area compared to its immediate urban neighbours, reinforcing its reputation as a secure place to live.

Protection Against Crime in Southwell (Dorset)

With Southwell (Dorset) experiencing a very low property crime rate of 4.3 per 1,000, residents still benefit from robust home security. Traditional security measures, while helpful, often fall short of true prevention, merely recording events after a breach. scOS offers a paradigm shift with its AI-powered proactive protection system. Instead of simply documenting a burglary, scOS actively works to prevent it by detecting threats at your property boundary. Its multi-camera intelligence ensures comprehensive surveillance, never missing a detail, and features like DVLA vehicle verification swiftly identify suspicious vehicles. By learning your routines, scOS intelligently filters out false alarms, only alerting you to genuine threats. This autonomous system can activate lights and engage speakers, destroying an intruder's element of surprise and often causing them to abandon their attempt within 60 seconds. For those seeking genuine peace of mind and prevention over mere reaction, scOS represents a significant upgrade in home security, aligning with the desire to maintain a safe environment.