Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
BH12 · Poole
218
crimes in February 2026
Above national average
BH24 · Hampshire
71
crimes in February 2026
Below national average
Ringwood has less crime — 71 vs 218 incidents in February 2026.
Poole recorded substantially more crime than Ringwood in February 2026 — 218 incidents compared to 71, a 3.1x difference. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Poole sees higher rates of Shoplifting (41), while Ringwood has more Criminal damage & arson (8). Poole sits above the national average for recorded crime while Ringwood 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, Ringwood recorded fewer crimes than Poole — 71 vs 218 incidents. That is 67% fewer crimes. Ringwood is also below the national average for crime.
The main difference lies in crime type. In February 2026, Poole saw higher rates of Shoplifting while Ringwood had more Criminal damage & arson. Overall, Ringwood recorded fewer total crimes (71 vs 218).