Is Ballygowan a safe place to live?

Ballygowan scores 10 out of 10 for safety (very low crime), compared with every neighbourhood in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Crime severity is 0.5 times the Ards and North Down average.

Is crime going up or down in Ballygowan?

Up 41% over 5 years, from 56 recorded crimes a year to 78.

What is the most common crime in Ballygowan?

The most common recorded crime is violence and sexual offences, about 10 per 1,000 residents a year.

How does crime in Ballygowan compare with Ards and North Down?

Crime severity in Ballygowan is 0.5 times the Ards and North Down average.

BallygowanTown

Crime in Ballygowan

Recorded crime in Ballygowan is 0.5 times the Ards and North Down average and 0.2 times the England and Wales average. Over 5 years it has risen 41%. Most of the harm comes from violence and sexual offences. Police data to August 2026.

Within 1.5 km of the centre of Ballygowan: about 3,238 residents in 11 neighbourhoods.

Safety: 10/10Very low crime
Living: 3.5/10Weak
5-year change: +41%more crimes
vs the council: 0.5×the Ards and North Down average

Open on the map

Neighbourhoods by Safety

1 = least safe, 10 = safest. Grey: no score. Select a neighbourhood to open it on the map.

Within 1.5 km of the centre of Ballygowan.

Crime over 5 years

Up 41% in 5 years Recorded crimes within 1.5 km of Ballygowan, anti-social behaviour left out.

What is recorded

Crime severity: 0.5× the Ards and North Down average (0.2× the England and Wales average). 20 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents a year.

Violence and sexual offences: 77% of the harm here
Burglary: 6% of the harm here
Other theft: 6% of the harm here

"Violence and sexual offences" is 77% of the harm here. It is a broad police category: most of these crimes are assaults without injury, harassment and threats, often indoors between people who know each other, and only a small part are sexual or serious violent offences. Police data does not say which, so each one is weighted at the England and Wales average for the category, which can overstate a quiet residential area.

Anti-social behaviour: 15 incidents per 1,000 residents a year, not scored. Not a crime, so it is not part of the Safety score.

Crime by type

Recorded crimes per 1,000 residents per year, most serious first, not counting anti-social behaviour.

Type	Per 1,000 a year
Robbery	0.0
Burglary	0.5
Violence and sexual offences	9.6
Drugs	0.8
Possession of weapons	0.0
Other crime	0.8
Other theft	2.1
Vehicle crime	0.5
Criminal damage and arson	3.0
Public order	0.3
Shoplifting	2.2

Postcode districts in Ballygowan

BT23

Nearby towns

Council: Ards and North Down

Questions about crime in Ballygowan

Is Ballygowan a safe place to live?: Ballygowan scores 10 out of 10 for safety (very low crime), compared with every neighbourhood in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Crime severity is 0.5 times the Ards and North Down average.
Is crime going up or down in Ballygowan?: Up 41% over 5 years, from 56 recorded crimes a year to 78.
What is the most common crime in Ballygowan?: The most common recorded crime is violence and sexual offences, about 10 per 1,000 residents a year.
How does crime in Ballygowan compare with Ards and North Down?: Crime severity in Ballygowan is 0.5 times the Ards and North Down average.