New crime statistics show Dorset to be the seventh safest county
New figures have shown that overall recorded crime rate in Dorset is half the level of national crime rates.
Data released on Thursday 21 July 2022 by the Office for National Statistics shows that total crime recorded in the county in the 12 months to the end of March 2022 rose by 8.2 per cent, compared to the national average of 15.7 per cent.
Further, Dorset has moved up in the ‘safest’ ratings by three places in the last year and is now 7th.
Commenting on the figures the Police and Crime Commissioner for Dorset, David Sidwick said: “I am really pleased to see that Dorset has gone up to 7th in the ratings – it is my aim to make Dorset the safest county and so seeing us go up in the ratings is both validation for the good work that is happening in the county and good news for the people of Dorset.”
“I am also pleased to see that although crime rates are going up, they are almost half the rate of the national average in Dorset.
For all this positive news though – there can be no room for complacency because behind each crime there is a person that needs help and perpetrator that needs bringing to justice.”
“Since being elected in May, I have been working on implementing my Police and Crime Plan, which has at its heart priorities on tackling violence, domestic abuse, stalking and other high harm areas such as violence against women and girls (VAWG) and so I am pleased to see that Dorset Police has at the top of its agenda reducing and preventing sexual offences and tackling VAWG.
Further, I am really pleased to note the significant improvement made to business and community burglary, which fell by 16.4 per cent. I know that many Dorset business owners will welcome that statistic.”
“I will continue to work alongside the Chief Constable and his team to achieve our shared vision of Dorset becoming the safest county in England and Wales and I would like to thank all the officers, staff and volunteers involved in keeping Dorset in the ‘top ten’ and making it a safe place to live and work.”