Bournemouth vs Poole — Crime Comparison 2026

Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.

Bournemouth

BH1 · Bournemouth

699

crimes in April 2026

Above national average

  • Anti-social behaviour229
  • Violence & sexual offences184
  • Criminal damage & arson57

Poole

BH13 · Poole

44

crimes in April 2026

Below national average

  • Anti-social behaviour21
  • Violence & sexual offences12
  • Criminal damage & arson5

Poole has less crime — 44 vs 699 incidents in April 2026.

What the data shows

Bournemouth recorded substantially more crime than Poole in April 2026 — 699 incidents compared to 44, a 15.9x difference. Both areas share Anti-social behaviour as their most common crime type, though Bournemouth records significantly more (229 vs 21 incidents). Bournemouth sits above the national average for recorded crime while Poole is below — a significant gap for anyone weighing up the two.

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Frequently asked questions

Is Bournemouth or Poole safer?

Based on April 2026 Police data, Poole recorded fewer crimes than Bournemouth — 44 vs 699 incidents. That is 94% fewer crimes. Poole is also below the national average for crime.

What are the main differences in crime between Bournemouth and Poole?

Both areas share Anti-social behaviour as their top crime category. In April 2026, Bournemouth recorded 229 incidents of this type vs 21 in Poole. Overall, Poole had fewer total crimes (44 vs 699).

Compare other areas

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