Dorset continues to be one of the safest areas in the country
The latest crime statistics show Dorset remains one of the safest areas in the country after experiencing a decrease in crime.
The latest crime statistics show Dorset remains one of the safest areas in the country after experiencing a decrease in crime.
The Office for National Statistics released data on Thursday 24 October 2024 confirming that Dorset remains in England’s top ten safest areas. During the 12 months from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024, overall crime in Dorset fell by 2.3 per cent.
Reports of stalking and harassment have continued to fall during this period by 8.1 per cent compared to previous decrease of 2.9 per cent, demonstrating a marked improvement over these recent months.
The county has also seen a reduction in violence against the person offences of 4.5 per cent, just under the national average drop of 5.4 per cent. In comparison, racially or religiously aggravated offences decreased 2.3 per cent in Dorset but rose nationally by 6.5 per cent.
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.
“Like other parts of the country, we have seen an increase in some crimes rates. Unfortunately, residential burglary has risen by 8.6 per cent, while shoplifting has increased by 19.2 per cent. Even though this rise is well below the national increase of 28.2 per cent, I acknowledge the impact these offences have on our business communities. We can attribute some of the increase in shoplifting reporting to our Operation Shopkeeper initiative, which is our approach to supporting retailers who are the victims of these offences.
“Additionally, we’ve seen a welcome reduction in robbery, with a decrease of 12.6 per cent in Dorset compared to the national increase of six per cent. These crimes can cause fear and distress in our communities. We continue our dedication to working hard and collaborating with Dorset communities, gathering intelligence and investigating offences, enabling us to target those responsible. Additionally, 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: “I am pleased Dorset has once again seen a fall in overall crime, ensuring we stay one of the safest places in the country.
“These latest figures prove once again that the Force continues to deliver for the people who live, work, and visit here and I am determined to ensure this positive trend continues.
“While I am encouraged by the drop in stalking and harassment offences, I want to encourage anyone experiencing these crimes to come forward and report them to Dorset Police. Your safety is important and there are people there to help and support you.
“A reduction in robbery offences and public order is also very welcome, and I thank officers and staff for their continued dedication towards producing all these positive results.
“A significant amount of work is being undertaken in Dorset to combat the scourge of shoplifting including Op Shopkeeper and Op Spotter. While the rise in this offence is mirrored across the country, I am pleased Dorset’s figures fall below the national average - testament to the work being carried out to combat this harmful offence. I want to assure the public that we are focused on bringing these numbers down even further and this proactive work will continue apace.
“To be clear, as the public’s voice in policing, I remain absolutely determined to continue driving down crime to ensure each and every person in our county is safe. This work will be relentless as we work towards delivering upon our vital commitments.”
Our Neighbourhood Policing Teams continue engaging with communities across Dorset to reinforce key crime prevention advice to help stop them becoming victims. You can find our latest prevention guidance online: Crime prevention advice | Dorset Police
Building a body of intelligence on what is happening in our communities is vital in enabling us to relentlessly pursue anyone intent on criminality. If you have information, please come forward and tell us what you know via our intelligence portal: What is police intelligence? | Dorset Police
