Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
BH4 · Bournemouth
308
crimes in February 2026
Above national average
BH15 · Poole
172
crimes in February 2026
Near national average
Poole has less crime — 172 vs 308 incidents in February 2026.
Bournemouth recorded notably higher crime than Poole in February 2026 — 308 vs 172 incidents. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Bournemouth sees higher rates of Shoplifting (35), while Poole has more Criminal damage & arson (18). 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, Poole recorded fewer crimes than Bournemouth — 172 vs 308 incidents. That is 44% fewer crimes. Bournemouth is above the national average.
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 (172 vs 308).