Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
BH1 · Bournemouth
675
crimes in February 2026
Above national average
DT1 · Dorset
105
crimes in February 2026
Near national average
Dorchester has less crime — 105 vs 675 incidents in February 2026.
Bournemouth recorded substantially more crime than Dorchester in February 2026 — 675 incidents compared to 105, a 6.4x difference. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Bournemouth sees higher rates of Other theft (40), while Dorchester has more Shoplifting (9). 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 February 2026 Police data, Dorchester recorded fewer crimes than Bournemouth — 105 vs 675 incidents. That is 84% fewer crimes. Bournemouth is above the national average.
The main difference lies in crime type. In February 2026, Bournemouth saw higher rates of Other theft while Dorchester had more Shoplifting. Overall, Dorchester recorded fewer total crimes (105 vs 675).