Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
BH11 · Bournemouth
205
crimes in February 2026
Above national average
BH17 · Poole
95
crimes in February 2026
Below national average
Poole has less crime — 95 vs 205 incidents in February 2026.
Bournemouth recorded notably higher crime than Poole in February 2026 — 205 vs 95 incidents. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Bournemouth sees higher rates of Shoplifting (43), while Poole has more Criminal damage & arson (9). Bournemouth sits above the national average for recorded crime while Poole 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, Poole recorded fewer crimes than Bournemouth — 95 vs 205 incidents. That is 54% fewer crimes. Poole is also below the national average for crime.
The main difference lies in crime type. In February 2026, Bournemouth saw higher rates of Shoplifting while Poole had more Criminal damage & arson. Overall, Poole recorded fewer total crimes (95 vs 205).