Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
BH3 · Bournemouth
252
crimes in February 2026
Above national average
BH17 · Poole
95
crimes in February 2026
Below national average
Poole has less crime — 95 vs 252 incidents in February 2026.
Bournemouth recorded substantially more crime than Poole in February 2026 — 252 incidents compared to 95, a 2.7x difference. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Bournemouth sees higher rates of Shoplifting (50), 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 252 incidents. That is 62% 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 252).