Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
DT1 · Dorset
124
crimes in April 2026
Near national average
BH19 · Dorset
23
crimes in April 2026
Below national average
Swanage has less crime — 23 vs 124 incidents in April 2026.
Dorchester recorded substantially more crime than Swanage in April 2026 — 124 incidents compared to 23, a 5.4x difference. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Dorchester sees higher rates of Shoplifting (19), while Swanage has more Criminal damage & arson (3). Both areas sit near the national average, with modest differences in their overall safety profile.
Full reports cover 24 months of trends, ward breakdowns, outcome rates, and a detailed safety score — from £4.99.
Based on April 2026 Police data, Swanage recorded fewer crimes than Dorchester — 23 vs 124 incidents. That is 81% fewer crimes. Swanage is also below the national average for crime.
The main difference lies in crime type. In April 2026, Dorchester saw higher rates of Shoplifting while Swanage had more Criminal damage & arson. Overall, Swanage recorded fewer total crimes (23 vs 124).