Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
BT1 · Belfast
1,296
crimes in February 2026
Above national average
BT18 · North Down
42
crimes in February 2026
Below national average
Holywood has less crime — 42 vs 1,296 incidents in February 2026.
Belfast recorded substantially more crime than Holywood in February 2026 — 1,296 incidents compared to 42, a 30.9x difference. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Belfast sees higher rates of Shoplifting (116), while Holywood has more Criminal damage & arson (8). Belfast sits above the national average for recorded crime while Holywood is below — a significant gap for anyone weighing up the two.
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, Holywood recorded fewer crimes than Belfast — 42 vs 1,296 incidents. That is 97% fewer crimes. Holywood is also below the national average for crime.
The main difference lies in crime type. In February 2026, Belfast saw higher rates of Shoplifting while Holywood had more Criminal damage & arson. Overall, Holywood recorded fewer total crimes (42 vs 1,296).