Crime in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Recorded crime in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole is 0.9 times the England and Wales average. Over 5 years it has fallen 15%. Most of the harm comes from violence and sexual offences. Police data to August 2026.
408,967 residents in 240 neighbourhoods.
- Safety
- 4/10Above average crime
- Living
- 7.6/10Good
- 5-year change
- −15%fewer crimes
Crime over 5 years
Down 15% in 5 years Recorded crimes in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, anti-social behaviour left out.
What is recorded
Crime severity: 0.9× the England and Wales average. 73 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents a year.
- Violence and sexual offences: 62% of the harm here
- Burglary: 17% of the harm here
- Other theft: 5% of the harm here
"Violence and sexual offences" is 62% 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: 31 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 | 0.7 |
| Burglary | 4.9 |
| Violence and sexual offences | 28.3 |
| Drugs | 1.8 |
| Possession of weapons | 0.5 |
| Other crime | 0.7 |
| Other theft | 7.3 |
| Theft from the person | 0.8 |
| Vehicle crime | 6.5 |
| Criminal damage and arson | 8.4 |
| Public order | 4.6 |
| Bicycle theft | 2.0 |
| Shoplifting | 6.4 |
Towns and cities in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Postcode districts in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Questions about crime in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
- Is Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole a safe place to live?
- Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole scores 4 out of 10 for safety (above average crime), compared with every neighbourhood in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
- Is crime going up or down in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole?
- Down 15% over 5 years, from 30,935 recorded crimes a year to 26,422.
- What is the most common crime in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole?
- The most common recorded crime is violence and sexual offences, about 28 per 1,000 residents a year.