Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
BT23 · Ards
3
crimes in February 2026
Below national average
BT9 · Belfast
196
crimes in February 2026
Above national average
Ards has less crime — 3 vs 196 incidents in February 2026.
Belfast recorded substantially more crime than Ards in February 2026 — 196 incidents compared to 3, a 65.3x difference. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Ards sees higher rates of Criminal damage & arson (2), while Belfast has more Anti-social behaviour (63) and Other theft (27). Ards is below the national average while Belfast is above, making Ards the safer choice on this measure.
Full reports cover 24 months of trends, ward breakdowns, outcome rates, and a detailed safety score — from £4.99.
Based on February 2026 Police data, Ards recorded fewer crimes than Belfast — 3 vs 196 incidents. That is 98% fewer crimes. Ards is also below the national average for crime.
The main difference lies in crime type. In February 2026, Ards saw higher rates of Criminal damage & arson while Belfast had more Anti-social behaviour and Other theft. Overall, Ards recorded fewer total crimes (3 vs 196).