Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
BH5 · Bournemouth
274
crimes in February 2026
Above national average
BH22 · Dorset
45
crimes in February 2026
Below national average
Ferndown has less crime — 45 vs 274 incidents in February 2026.
Bournemouth recorded substantially more crime than Ferndown in February 2026 — 274 incidents compared to 45, a 6.1x difference. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Bournemouth sees higher rates of Criminal damage & arson (22), while Ferndown has more Shoplifting (6). Bournemouth sits above the national average for recorded crime while Ferndown 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, Ferndown recorded fewer crimes than Bournemouth — 45 vs 274 incidents. That is 84% fewer crimes. Ferndown is also below the national average for crime.
The main difference lies in crime type. In February 2026, Bournemouth saw higher rates of Criminal damage & arson while Ferndown had more Shoplifting. Overall, Ferndown recorded fewer total crimes (45 vs 274).