Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
BH8 · Bournemouth
296
crimes in February 2026
Above national average
BH31 · Dorset
42
crimes in February 2026
Below national average
Verwood has less crime — 42 vs 296 incidents in February 2026.
Bournemouth recorded substantially more crime than Verwood in February 2026 — 296 incidents compared to 42, a 7.0x difference. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Bournemouth sees higher rates of Shoplifting (49), while Verwood has more Criminal damage & arson (6). Bournemouth sits above the national average for recorded crime while Verwood 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, Verwood recorded fewer crimes than Bournemouth — 42 vs 296 incidents. That is 86% fewer crimes. Verwood 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 Verwood had more Criminal damage & arson. Overall, Verwood recorded fewer total crimes (42 vs 296).