Dorking Crime Rate

Dorking, a historic market town in Mole Valley, maintains a high safety profile with an overall crime rate of 83.5 per 1,000 residents. This is significantly lower than the UK average of 93.1. The town's safety score stands at 81/100, surpassing the national average of 78, which reinforces its reputation as a secure place to live and work. Recent trends indicate that crime is stable, with a modest 4.8% decrease over the past year. This report provides a comprehensive breakdown of Dorking's crime statistics, examining the most frequent offences, property safety concerns, and temporal patterns to offer a clear picture of the local security environment.

In Dorking, the crime profile is led by three primary categories: violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour, and public order offences. Violence and sexual offences are the most frequent, making up 36.0% of total crime with 497 incidents. Anti-social behaviour accounts for 14.3% (198 crimes), while public order offences represent 11.4% (158 crimes).

Property crime is a significant factor for Dorking residents, with an overall rate of 27.1 per 1,000 people. This encompasses a broad range of offences, including 128 incidents of criminal damage and arson, 101 shoplifting offences, and 87 cases of 'other theft'. Specifically regarding domestic security, there were 62 recorded burglaries and 49 vehicle crimes over the past year. While the burglary rate of 3.8 per 1,000 is relatively moderate, the combined volume of property-related offences highlights the need for homeowners to maintain robust security protocols to protect their dwellings and personal assets.

The crime trend in Dorking is currently stable, with a 4.8% decrease in total offences compared to the previous year. A month-by-month analysis shows that crime rates were lowest in late 2024, with November recording just 4.7 crimes per 1,000 people. There was a notable increase in the spring of 2025, with rates peaking at 8.4 in March and remaining around 8.0 through the early summer months. Since then, the rate has fluctuated but generally stayed below the spring peak, ending at 7.4 in October 2025. This pattern suggests that while there are seasonal variations, the overall level of crime in Dorking is not experiencing any alarming upward shifts. For residents, this stability is a positive sign, indicating that the town remains a consistently safe environment, though the spring spike highlights the importance of year-round vigilance.

How To Keep Safe in Dorking

Violence and sexual offences are the most frequently reported crimes in Dorking, representing 36.0% of the total. While the town is generally very safe, adopting personal safety habits is always recommended for residents and visitors alike.

• Stay in Well-Lit Areas: When walking at night, stick to the main streets in the town centre and avoid poorly lit footpaths or cut-throughs.
• Be Mindful of Surroundings: Keep your phone and valuables out of sight when walking in public to avoid becoming a target for opportunistic theft.
• Use Trusted Transport: If you are out late, use licensed taxis or pre-booked minicabs rather than walking long distances alone.
• Personal Safety Apps: Consider using apps that allow you to share your journey with friends or family, providing an extra layer of security.
• Secure Your Home: Given the 27.1 property crime rate, ensure all windows and doors are locked, even when you are at home, and consider upgrading to an AI-driven security system for proactive protection.

Crime in Dorking fluctuates significantly depending on the time of day. The afternoon period (12pm - 6pm) is a peak time for theft, which accounts for 44% of crimes during these hours, likely due to increased footfall in the town's retail areas. As evening sets in (6pm - 12am), there is a shift toward 'other' crimes, including anti-social behaviour and public order offences, which make up 51% of reports. Night-time (12am - 6am) is particularly notable for burglary and vehicle crime. Burglary reaches its highest frequency at 24% during these early hours, while vehicle crime peaks at 30%. This suggests that criminals take advantage of the cover of darkness when properties and cars are most likely to be unattended. Understanding these patterns can help residents prioritise their security, such as ensuring all vehicles are securely locked and homes are alarmed before retiring for the night.

In a regional context, Dorking (83.5 crimes per 1,000) sits in the middle of the safety spectrum. It is considerably more active than the very quiet nearby villages of Westhumble (0.0), Brockham (31.9), and Westcott (49.9). However, it remains safer than Box Hill, which recorded a higher rate of 96.4. These differences are largely due to Dorking's role as a major commercial and transport hub for the Mole Valley area, which naturally results in higher footfall and a greater volume of reported incidents compared to the surrounding residential and rural settlements.

Dorking's property crime rate of 27.1 per 1,000 people highlights a persistent need for effective home security. While many residents rely on traditional CCTV or smart doorbells, these systems are fundamentally reactive. They record a crime as it happens, often leaving homeowners with nothing but footage of a masked intruder after the damage is done.

For those seeking genuine protection, scOS offers a proactive alternative. By using advanced AI, scOS monitors all your cameras simultaneously to detect threats at the property boundary. It can distinguish between a neighbour, a delivery person, and a potential intruder, only alerting you when a real threat is detected. In Dorking, where burglaries peak at night, scOS's autonomous response—activating deterrent lights and audio—can stop a criminal in their tracks before they even reach your door. This preventative approach turns your security system from a witness into a guardian, ensuring that your home remains a sanctuary.