Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
BH5 · Bournemouth
274
crimes in February 2026
Above national average
BH18 · Poole
59
crimes in February 2026
Below national average
Poole has less crime — 59 vs 274 incidents in February 2026.
Bournemouth recorded substantially more crime than Poole in February 2026 — 274 incidents compared to 59, a 4.6x difference. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Bournemouth sees higher rates of Criminal damage & arson (22), while Poole has more Shoplifting (5). 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 — 59 vs 274 incidents. That is 78% 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 Criminal damage & arson while Poole had more Shoplifting. Overall, Poole recorded fewer total crimes (59 vs 274).