Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
BH22 · Dorset
64
crimes in April 2026
Below national average
BH19 · Dorset
23
crimes in April 2026
Below national average
Swanage has less crime — 23 vs 64 incidents in April 2026.
Ferndown recorded substantially more crime than Swanage in April 2026 — 64 incidents compared to 23, a 2.8x difference. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Ferndown sees higher rates of Other theft (5), while Swanage has more Criminal damage & arson (3). Both areas sit below the national average for recorded crime — a positive sign for either location.
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, Swanage recorded fewer crimes than Ferndown — 23 vs 64 incidents. That is 64% fewer crimes. Swanage is also below the national average for crime.
The main difference lies in crime type. In April 2026, Ferndown saw higher rates of Other theft while Swanage had more Criminal damage & arson. Overall, Swanage recorded fewer total crimes (23 vs 64).