Winterborne St Martin Crime Rate

Crime Statistics in Winterborne St Martin

Winterborne St Martin, an urban settlement with a population of 2,144, reports an overall crime rate of 38.7 per 1,000 people per year. This figure is considerably lower than the UK average crime rate of 93.1 per 1,000, positioning Winterborne St Martin as a notably safer community. The area's safety score is an impressive 92 out of 100, far exceeding the UK average of 78, which underscores its high level of security for residents. In terms of recent trends, Winterborne St Martin has experienced an increase in its overall crime rate, with a 22.1% rise year-over-year. This upward trend suggests a need for increased vigilance and community safety efforts. This report provides a detailed overview of crime types, trends, and safety advice pertinent to Winterborne St Martin.

Crime Breakdown in Winterborne St Martin

In Winterborne St Martin, Anti-social behaviour is the most common crime type, accounting for 26.5% of all incidents, with 22 crimes (10.3 per 1,000 residents). Violence and sexual offences is the second most frequent, making up 22.9% with 19 incidents (8.9 per 1,000), followed by Public order offences at 12.1% with 10 incidents (4.7 per 1,000).

Property-related crime in Winterborne St Martin, which includes burglary, criminal damage and arson, vehicle crime, other theft, and shoplifting, collectively stands at 11.7% of all crimes. Specifically, there were 3 burglaries (1.4 per 1,000), 9 criminal damage and arson incidents (4.2 per 1,000), 7 vehicle crimes (3.3 per 1,000), 4 other thefts (1.9 per 1,000), and 2 shoplifting incidents (0.9 per 1,000). The combined property crime rate of 11.7 per 1,000 is substantially lower than the UK average property crime rate of 32.9 per 1,000, indicating a relatively low risk for homeowners. Despite the low overall crime, understanding these specific categories helps residents take targeted preventative measures.

Crime Trends in Winterborne St Martin

Winterborne St Martin has experienced an increasing trend in its crime statistics, with a 22.1% rise in the overall crime rate year-over-year. This indicates a need for increased vigilance among residents. Looking at the monthly trend data, crime rates per 1,000 residents have shown fluctuations. Rates were 3.3 in November 2024, dipping to 1.4 in February and September 2025, and then rising to a peak of 5.1 in August 2025. Following this, rates returned to moderate levels, such as 4.2 in May and 2.3 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 Winterborne St Martin.

How To Keep Safe in Winterborne St Martin

Given that Anti-social behaviour is the most prevalent crime type in Winterborne St Martin, residents are encouraged to take proactive steps to minimise its impact and ensure community well-being.

1. Report Incidents Promptly: If you witness or are affected by anti-social behaviour, report it to the local police or council. Timely reporting helps authorities address recurring issues and allocate resources effectively.
2. Maintain Public Spaces: Keep your local area tidy and well-maintained. Litter and graffiti can contribute to an environment where anti-social behaviour is more likely to occur.
3. Engage with Community Initiatives: Participate in local neighbourhood watch schemes or community events. A strong community presence can deter anti-social behaviour and foster a sense of collective responsibility.
4. Secure Your Property: Although anti-social behaviour often occurs in public, ensuring your home and garden are secure can prevent related incidents like criminal damage or trespass.
5. Be Aware of Your Surroundings: When out and about, especially in the evenings, be mindful of your environment. Avoid isolated areas if possible and travel with others.

Time Patterns of Crime in Winterborne St Martin

Crime patterns in Winterborne St Martin show distinct variations across different times of the day. During the morning hours (6am-12pm), 'Other' crimes are most prominent, accounting for 42% of crimes, followed by theft at 26% and vehicle crime at 23%. Burglary also accounts for 8% during this period. The afternoon period (12pm-6pm) also sees 'Other' crimes as high at 42%, with theft at 33% and burglary increasing to 16%. In the evening (6pm-12am), 'Other' crimes, which can include anti-social behaviour and public order offences, become the most dominant, reaching 59% of incidents, while vehicle crime is 21% and theft drops to 9%. During the night (12am-6am), vehicle crime significantly peaks at 47%, followed by 'Other' crimes at 37% and burglary at 12%. These patterns suggest that while 'Other' offences are consistent, property-related crimes like vehicle crime are particularly prevalent overnight.

Nearby Areas Comparison

To understand Winterborne St Martin's crime rate in a broader context, it's beneficial to compare it with similar nearby settlements. Winterborne St Martin reports a crime rate of 38.7 per 1,000 people per year. Dorchester (Dorset), a larger nearby town, has a significantly higher crime rate of 74.4 per 1,000. Charminster has a lower crime rate of 25.5 per 1,000. In stark contrast, Portesham and Charlton Down both report exceptionally low rates of 0.0 crimes per 1,000, indicating highly peaceful communities. These comparisons highlight that while Winterborne St Martin has a crime rate below the UK average, there are both higher and lower crime areas in its immediate vicinity, providing a varied safety profile across the region.

Protection Against Crime in Winterborne St Martin

With Winterborne St Martin experiencing a property crime rate of 11.7 per 1,000, robust home security is an important consideration for residents. Traditional security systems often provide footage after an incident, which is reactive and doesn't prevent the initial breach. For superior protection, proactive deterrence is essential. scOS, an AI-powered home security operating system, is designed to prevent crime before it happens. It achieves this by using multi-camera intelligence to detect threats at your property boundary, ensuring comprehensive surveillance without blind spots. Features like DVLA vehicle verification can instantly identify suspicious vehicles, while its pattern learning capabilities distinguish between genuine threats and routine activities, minimising false alarms. The system's autonomous response, including activating lights and engaging speakers, is engineered to destroy an intruder's element of surprise, often causing them to abandon their attempt within 60 seconds. Choosing a professional-grade solution like scOS shifts the focus from merely documenting a crime to actively preventing it, providing residents with enhanced peace of mind.