Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
BH5 · Bournemouth
320
crimes in April 2026
Above national average
DT1 · Dorset
124
crimes in April 2026
Near national average
Dorchester has less crime — 124 vs 320 incidents in April 2026.
Bournemouth recorded substantially more crime than Dorchester in April 2026 — 320 incidents compared to 124, a 2.6x difference. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Bournemouth sees higher rates of Criminal damage & arson (34), while Dorchester has more Shoplifting (19). 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 April 2026 Police data, Dorchester recorded fewer crimes than Bournemouth — 124 vs 320 incidents. That is 61% fewer crimes. Bournemouth is above the national average.
The main difference lies in crime type. In April 2026, Bournemouth saw higher rates of Criminal damage & arson while Dorchester had more Shoplifting. Overall, Dorchester recorded fewer total crimes (124 vs 320).