Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
BH1 · Bournemouth
675
crimes in February 2026
Above national average
BH24 · Hampshire
71
crimes in February 2026
Below national average
Ringwood has less crime — 71 vs 675 incidents in February 2026.
Bournemouth recorded substantially more crime than Ringwood in February 2026 — 675 incidents compared to 71, a 9.5x difference. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Bournemouth sees higher rates of Other theft (40), while Ringwood has more Criminal damage & arson (8). Bournemouth sits above the national average for recorded crime while Ringwood 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, Ringwood recorded fewer crimes than Bournemouth — 71 vs 675 incidents. That is 89% fewer crimes. Ringwood is also below the national average for crime.
The main difference lies in crime type. In February 2026, Bournemouth saw higher rates of Other theft while Ringwood had more Criminal damage & arson. Overall, Ringwood recorded fewer total crimes (71 vs 675).