Verwood Crime Rate December 2023 | Monthly Statistics

In December 2023, Verwood's crime rate of 2.3 per 1,000 residents places it 68.1% below the UK average of 7.2 per 1,000, illustrating a consistently low-risk environment. The per-capita perspective reveals that the likelihood of experiencing a crime in this built-up area is significantly lower than nationally, with residents facing a risk level that is both statistically and practically meaningful. The top crime types—violence and sexual offences (33.3% of total incidents), anti-social behaviour (18.2%), and public order offences (15.2%)—reflect a pattern influenced by seasonal factors. December's festive season, marked by extended evenings and increased social activity, may have contributed to the rise in public order offences, though this category's UK average of 0.5 per 1,000 suggests Verwood's performance is still better than the national benchmark. The balance between property and violent crime remains skewed toward violent offences, with 11 incidents recorded (33.3% of total crimes), though this rate is 69% below the UK average. The seasonal context of Christmas shopping and holiday-related activities likely influenced patterns, as dark evenings and empty homes over the festive period could have created conditions conducive to certain types of crime. However, the overall low crime rate suggests that Verwood's built-up area maintains a level of safety that contrasts with the UK's broader trends, due to factors such as community cohesion, local policing strategies, or the area's character as a relatively small, rural-adjacent community with limited urban density.

December 2023 saw a 100% increase in public order offences, rising from zero to five incidents—a stark contrast to the previous month. This surge, coupled with a 50% rise in anti-social behaviour (from four to six cases), suggests a shift in crime patterns during the festive season. Meanwhile, other theft and other crime categories fell sharply: other theft dropped 75% (from four to one) and other crime fell 50% (from two to one), indicating potential improvements in targeted prevention efforts. Violent crime remained a concern, with 11 incidents recorded (33.3% of all crimes).8 per 1,000 is 69% below the UK average. The balance between property and violent crime also shifted slightly, with violent offences comprising 33.3% of total incidents—higher than the usual proportion. Residents may find the 64% reduction in criminal damage and arson (from six to three) noteworthy, as this category's UK average of 0.6 per 1,000 suggests Verwood's performance is exceptional in this area.

Verwood's December 2023 crime rate of 2.3 per 1,000 residents marks a 15.2% decline from November's 2.8 per 1,000, reflecting a continued downward trend. This equates to roughly one crime per day across the built-up area's 14,117 residents—a figure that contextualises risk in daily life. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 428 residents, a statistic that highlights the relatively low frequency of incidents in this Dorset community. When compared to the UK average of 7.2 per 1,000, Verwood's performance is striking: residents face a risk level 68.1% below the national average. This contrast is particularly evident in violent crime, where the rate of 0.8 per 1,000 is 69% below the UK's 2.6 per 1,000. The population-scaled perspective reinforces that Verwood's crime profile is markedly different from the UK's, with property crimes and public order offences remaining well below national benchmarks. These figures suggest that local factors—such as community engagement or spatial characteristics—play a role in sustaining lower crime levels despite seasonal fluctuations.