Dorset Police news site

The latest crime statistics show that Dorset remains one of the safest areas in the country after experiencing a decrease in crime.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) released data on Thursday 30 January 2025, confirming that Dorset remains in England’s top ten safest areas. During the 12 months from 1 October 2023 to 30 September 2024, overall crime in Dorset fell by 2.9 per cent, a reassuring message for Dorset communities.

The county experienced a reduction in certain crimes, including violence against the person, which fell by five per cent and robberies, which dropped by 19.4 per cent.

Reports of stalking and harassment also fell by 10.3 per cent, compared to the national decrease of 9.2 per cent, illustrating Dorset Police’s commitment to targeting perpetrators and supporting victims.

Deputy Chief Constable Rachel Farrell said: “I am pleased to see that crime in Dorset has continued to fall, keeping the county one of the safest areas to live, work and visit. We are committed to our vision of being the safest county and remain steadfast in our relentless pursuit of criminals who cause harm to our communities, keeping people safe and putting victims first.

“We saw a rise of 17.6 per cent in racially or religiously aggravated offences, which is in line with the national 15.3 per cent increase. Unfortunately, here in Dorset and elsewhere in the country, we saw a spike in hate crime offences during the protests and associated disorder we experienced during the summer of 2024. In line with our commitment to creating a safe county for everyone, we engaged with our diverse communities and Independent Advisory Groups to encourage reporting hate crimes and incidents, which is reflected in this increase in reporting.

“During this reporting period, we have seen a 1.1 per cent increase in residential burglary and business or community burglaries increased by six per cent. Nationally, these crimes decreased by 5.1 per cent and 2.6 per cent, respectively. While the increase in crime is relatively small, tackling all burglary crimes remains a priority for Dorset Police and we remain committed to pursuing those individuals who are involved in this type of criminality.

“Vehicle offences have increased by 6.4 per cent, compared to a national drop of 5.5 per cent. The Force is committed to addressing this crime type and focuses efforts in high-risk areas, targeting criminals and raising crime prevention awareness with the public.

“Shoplifting has increased by 7.2 per cent; however, compared to the October 2024 report of an increase of 19.2 per cent, this drop displays a significant improvement and is well below the national rise of 22.5 per cent. We can confidently attribute this decrease to our Operation Shopkeeper initiative, which is our approach to supporting retailers who are the victims of these offences. The collaborative work of our officers and staff has significantly impacted this crime type.

“We continue our dedication to working hard and collaborating with Dorset communities, gathering intelligence and investigating offences, enabling us to target those responsible. We work closely with our partners and business communities in a comprehensive approach to prevent crime and tackle the root causes.”

Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner, David Sidwick, said: “Another consecutive fall in overall crime demonstrates why Dorset remains one of the safest places in the country.

“These results are testament to the hard work of Dorset Police officers, staff and volunteers who continue to deliver for the people of this county.

“I am pleased to see the significant drop in robbery offences, along with a notable reduction in stalking and harassment offences. I know the harmful impact stalking and harassment can have on victims and I would urge anyone with concerns over this type of behaviour to contact the police and report these distressing offences - help and support is available.

“It is also reassuring to the latest shoplifting offences are far below the national average. Much hard work has gone into tackling this aspect of business crime through initiatives including Dorset’s Operation Shopkeeper, which targets prolific offenders, alongside the work of the Dorset Safer Business Partnership which brings together a range of agencies to fight business crime. I hope this sends a message to offenders that shoplifting will not be tolerated in Dorset. I want to make it clear to businesses that wherever possible the Force will act when these offences occur, so please keep reporting.

“While these positive results show good progress, I know there is still work to do in some areas and I will continue to scrutinise the Force where this is needed. As the public’s representative in policing, I want to see further progress and will work with the Force to help achieve this.

“Ultimately, Dorset continues to be one of the safest places in the country to live, work and visit. While Dorset Police face some difficult financial decisions this year, I will do my utmost to try and ensure positive progress is not adversely hampered by budgetary pressures and that our communities continue to be protected and safe as we deliver upon our vital commitments.”