Winterborne St Martin Crime Rate

Introduction to Crime in Winterborne St Martin

Winterborne St Martin experiences an overall crime rate of 38.7 per 1,000 residents per year, which is significantly lower than the national average of 93.4 per 1,000. This contributes to Winterborne St Martin's excellent safety score of 92 out of 100, far surpassing the UK average of 78. Over the past year, the crime rate in Winterborne St Martin has shown an increasing trend, rising by 15.3%. This report delves into detailed crime statistics, offering residents a comprehensive understanding of local safety trends and potential areas for crime prevention.

Crime Breakdown in Winterborne St Martin

An analysis of crime types in Winterborne St Martin reveals that Anti-social behaviour accounts for the largest proportion, representing 25.3% of all reported crimes, with 21 incidents. Violence and sexual offences is the second most prevalent, making up 24.1% of the total with 20 reported cases. Public order offences forms the third most significant category, contributing 12.1% to the overall crime figures, with 10 incidents. These figures indicate a primary focus on crimes related to public order and personal safety within the area.

Looking at property-related crime, Winterborne St Martin has a rate of 11.2 per 1,000 residents, which is substantially lower than the UK average of 33.2 per 1,000. This category encompasses a range of offences including burglary (3.6%), other theft (4.8%), vehicle crime (8.4%), shoplifting (1.2%), and criminal damage and arson (10.8%). For residents and homeowners, these statistics suggest that while property crime is very low compared to the national average, vigilance regarding vehicle crime and criminal damage remains important. Proactive measures to secure homes and vehicles can further enhance personal and community safety.

Crime Trends in Winterborne St Martin

Winterborne St Martin has experienced an increasing crime trend over the last year, with a rise of 15.3% in overall crime. Analysing the monthly crime rates per 1,000 residents provides further insight into these patterns. In late 2024, the crime rate saw a peak in November at 3.3, with a low of 1.9 in December. The early months of 2025 showed some fluctuation, with a low of 1.4 in February and a peak of 4.7 in April. The latter half of 2025 saw a peak in August at 5.1, before settling back to 1.4 in September. This increasing trend, despite some monthly variations, indicates a shift in the local safety landscape. For residents, this upward trend suggests a need for continued awareness and proactive security measures.

Crime Time Patterns in Winterborne St Martin

Crime in Winterborne St Martin exhibits distinct patterns throughout the day. During the morning hours (6am-12pm), 'Other' crime types (including violence and anti-social behaviour) are most prevalent at 32%, with vehicle crime at 28% and theft at 30%. Burglary is also present at 10%. The afternoon (12pm-6pm) sees theft increase to 37%, while 'Other' crimes are 31%, and burglary is 20%. As the evening progresses (6pm-12am), 'Other' crimes rise to 47%, while vehicle crime is 27%, and theft drops to 11%. Into the night (12am-6am), vehicle crime peaks at 54%, with 'Other' crimes at 27%, and burglary at 15%. This suggests that vehicle crime is a significant concern throughout the day, particularly peaking at night, while 'Other' crimes dominate the evening.

Crime Comparison with Nearby Areas

When evaluating crime statistics in Winterborne St Martin, it is helpful to consider the context of neighbouring areas. Winterborne St Martin’s overall crime rate of 38.7 per 1,000 residents and property crime rate of 11.2 per 1,000, alongside an excellent safety score of 92/100, provide a benchmark for comparison. Dorchester (Dorset), Charminster, Portesham, and Charlton Down are all nearby communities. Compared to these, Winterborne St Martin generally maintains a very low crime profile, particularly in property-related offences, and consistently ranks highly in terms of safety. Charminster, for example, has an even lower overall crime rate (25.1) and property crime rate (5.7), indicating it is slightly safer. This regional overview highlights Winterborne St Martin as a relatively safe area within the local landscape, offering residents a reassuring level of security.

Enhancing Home Security in Winterborne St Martin

Given Winterborne St Martin's property crime rate of 11.2 per 1,000 residents, which is significantly lower than the national average, it remains prudent for homeowners to consider robust security measures, especially with vehicle crime and criminal damage being notable crime types and the recent increasing trend. While traditional CCTV systems merely record incidents after they occur, an advanced approach focuses on crime prevention at your property's boundary. Rather than simply documenting a burglary, consider systems that actively deter potential threats before they escalate.

Modern security solutions, such as AI-powered home security operating systems like scOS, offer proactive protection. These systems utilise multi-camera intelligence to monitor your entire property simultaneously, learning routines to distinguish between family, deliveries, and genuine threats. Features like DVLA vehicle verification can instantly flag suspicious vehicles. By detecting and engaging threats at the property line with autonomous responses like activating lights and speakers, scOS destroys the element of surprise that burglars rely on. This professional-grade deterrence signals serious protection, making burglars decide within 60 seconds to move on, unlike reactive systems that only alert you after the fact. Investing in such proactive security ensures real protection, shifting the focus from recording crime to preventing it entirely.