Verwood Crime Rate January 2024 | Monthly Statistics

In Verwood, a built-up area within Dorset, 28 crimes were reported in January 2024, translating to one reported crime for every 504 residents over the course of the month. This equates to a crime rate of 2.0 per 1,000 residents—73% below the UK average of 7.4 per 1,000. The crime profile shows a balance between property and violent offences, with violence and sexual offences (10 incidents) accounting for 35.7% of total crimes, followed by anti-social behaviour (14.3%) and burglary (14.3%). Seasonal factors appear to influence these patterns, as January typically sees reduced retail footfall and shorter daylight hours, which may contribute to lower overall crime volumes compared to busier months. However, the breakdown reveals a 73% gap in violence rates compared to the UK average, suggesting Verwood's community dynamics—potentially including lower population density or stronger local policing—may play a role in keeping violent crime below national levels. Property crimes, while less frequent than violent offences, still reflect a notable presence, with burglary and shoplifting each contributing 14.3% of total incidents. These figures align with the area's character as a semi-rural built-up zone, where limited commercial activity and residential density may create distinct crime patterns compared to larger urban centres. The relatively low overall rate, combined with the absence of major spikes in any single category, indicates a stable crime environment for Verwood residents, despite the sharp month-on-month increases in specific offences like shoplifting.

January 2024 saw dramatic fluctuations in specific crime categories. Shoplifting increased by 300% (from 1 to 4 incidents), driven by potential post-holiday retail activity shifts. Other theft also rose sharply by 200% (from 1 to 3), while burglary doubled (from 2 to 4). These increases contrast with declines in criminal damage and arson (-66.7%), public order offences (-60%), and anti-social behaviour (-33.3%). The breakdown reveals a mixed picture: violence and sexual offences (10 incidents) remain the most common category, though they are 73% below the UK average. Anti-social behaviour, at 0.3 per 1,000, is 70% below the UK average, suggesting community cohesion factors may contribute to lower rates. For residents, the sharp rise in shoplifting highlights the need for vigilance in local retail areas during January, a month marked by reduced footfall and post-holiday transitions.

Verwood's crime rate in January 2024 (2.0 per 1,000 residents) reflects a 15.4% decline from the previous month's rate of 2.3 per 1,000. This reduction aligns with the post-holiday seasonal context, where shorter days and reduced retail activity may partly explain lower crime volumes. On a daily basis, the area recorded approximately one crime per day over the 31-day period, a figure that translates to a monthly exposure of one reported crime for every 504 residents. For a population of 14,117, this suggests a relatively low frequency of incidents compared to the UK average. The population-scaled perspective highlights that Verwood's crime rate is significantly below the national average, with property crimes (12 incidents) and violent crimes (10 incidents) distributed across a small, built-up area within Dorset. This context may reassure residents that local crime remains proportionally low, even as specific categories like shoplifting show sharp month-on-month increases.