Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
GU1 · Surrey
439
crimes in April 2026
Above national average
BH19 · Dorset
23
crimes in April 2026
Below national average
Swanage has less crime — 23 vs 439 incidents in April 2026.
Guildford recorded substantially more crime than Swanage in April 2026 — 439 incidents compared to 23, a 19.1x difference. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Guildford sees higher rates of Shoplifting (87) and Public order (59), while Swanage has more Criminal damage & arson (3) and Anti-social behaviour (2). Guildford sits above the national average for recorded crime while Swanage 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 April 2026 Police data, Swanage recorded fewer crimes than Guildford — 23 vs 439 incidents. That is 95% fewer crimes. Swanage is also below the national average for crime.
The main difference lies in crime type. In April 2026, Guildford saw higher rates of Shoplifting and Public order while Swanage had more Criminal damage & arson and Anti-social behaviour. Overall, Swanage recorded fewer total crimes (23 vs 439).