Crime in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole: statistics, rates and trends
35,434 crimes were recorded in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole in the 12 months to July 2026, 86.6 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 4% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole at a glance
- Crime trends in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
- Types of crime in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
- Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole compared with nearby districts
- Areas within Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
- Streets with the most crime in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
- What happened after crimes were reported in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
- Population and deprivation in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
- Questions about crime in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
- About this data
35,434 crimes were recorded in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole in the 12 months to July 2026, 86.6 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 4% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 11,029 reports (31% of the total).
Of the 308 districts covered by this site, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole has the 149th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole | South West | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 35,434 | 491,906 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 86.6 | 83.5 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -4% | +1% | -1% |
| Population | 408,967 | 5,889,695 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole was highest in the year to July 2018 (47,159 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (35,434). Over the whole period it fell 25%, against a fall of 4% across England and Wales. Rates use today's population for every year, so they show the direction of change rather than exact historic rates.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to July 2026 | 35,434 | 86.6 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 36,919 | 90.3 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 39,147 | 95.7 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 39,882 | 97.5 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 42,828 | 104.7 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 45,724 | 111.8 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 45,821 | 112.0 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 46,630 | 114.0 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 47,159 | 115.3 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 3,976 |
| June 2026 | 3,300 |
| May 2026 | 3,381 |
| April 2026 | 2,921 |
| March 2026 | 2,876 |
| February 2026 | 2,755 |
| January 2026 | 2,552 |
| December 2025 | 2,652 |
| November 2025 | 2,548 |
| October 2025 | 2,697 |
| September 2025 | 2,655 |
| August 2025 | 3,121 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole over the 12 months to July 2026. The index compares the local rate with England and Wales: 1.00 is the national rate, 2.00 is double it. Rates were well above the national level for anti-social behaviour, bicycle theft.
The largest increases were in robbery (+29%) and drugs (+24%). The largest falls were in theft from the person (-19%) and burglary (-15%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 11,029 | 27.0 | 0.79 | -6% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 9,252 | 22.6 | 1.47 | +6% |
| Shoplifting | 3,072 | 7.5 | 0.91 | -6% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 2,463 | 6.0 | 0.89 | -11% |
| Vehicle crime | 2,231 | 5.5 | 1.11 | -4% |
| Other theft | 2,123 | 5.2 | 0.81 | -14% |
| Public order | 1,719 | 4.2 | 0.63 | -13% |
| Burglary | 1,260 | 3.1 | 0.87 | -15% |
| Drugs | 808 | 2.0 | 0.60 | +24% |
| Bicycle theft | 447 | 1.1 | 1.33 | -9% |
| Robbery | 340 | 0.8 | 0.62 | +29% |
| Other crime | 302 | 0.7 | 0.35 | -11% |
| Possession of weapons | 206 | 0.5 | 0.52 | -12% |
| Theft from the person | 182 | 0.4 | 0.26 | -19% |
Violence and sexual offences in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole recorded 11,029 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (27.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 6% on the year before. It made up 31.1% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole recorded 9,252 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (22.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 6% on the year before. It made up 26.1% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole recorded 3,072 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.5 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 6% on the year before. It made up 8.7% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole recorded 2,463 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.0 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 11% on the year before. It made up 7.0% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole recorded 2,231 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.5 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 4% on the year before. It made up 6.3% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole recorded 2,123 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 14% on the year before. It made up 6.0% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole recorded 1,719 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 13% on the year before. It made up 4.9% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole recorded 1,260 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.1 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 15% on the year before. It made up 3.6% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole recorded 808 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 24% on the year before. It made up 2.3% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole recorded 447 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 9% on the year before. It made up 1.3% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole recorded 340 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 29% on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole recorded 302 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 11% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole recorded 206 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 12% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole recorded 182 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 19% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the districts closest to Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.
| District | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Forest | 10,252 | 58.2 | -33% |
| Dorset | 20,740 | 53.2 | -39% |
| Southampton | 34,149 | 131.6 | +52% |
| Isle of Wight | 11,798 | 83.3 | -4% |
| Eastleigh | 9,302 | 65.1 | -25% |
| Fareham | 6,986 | 60.5 | -30% |
| Test Valley | 8,166 | 60.4 | -30% |
| Gosport | 6,538 | 78.8 | -9% |
38 areas within Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Bournemouth Central had the highest rate (291.8 per 1,000) and Highcliffe & Walkford the lowest (24.8). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bournemouth Central | Neighbourhood | 19,089 | 5,571 | 291.8 |
| Poole Town | Neighbourhood | 13,711 | 2,375 | 173.2 |
| Boscombe West | Neighbourhood | 10,926 | 1,642 | 150.3 |
| Westbourne & West Cliff | Neighbourhood | 11,189 | 1,453 | 129.9 |
| Winton East | Neighbourhood | 12,400 | 1,539 | 124.1 |
| Bournemouth | Town | 202,677 | 21,650 | 106.8 |
| East Cliff & Springbourne | Neighbourhood | 17,034 | 1,701 | 99.9 |
| Kinson | Neighbourhood | 17,651 | 1,744 | 98.8 |
| Wallisdown & Winton West | Neighbourhood | 10,930 | 1,020 | 93.3 |
| Muscliff & Strouden Park | Neighbourhood | 17,562 | 1,573 | 89.6 |
| Christchurch Town | Neighbourhood | 10,161 | 868 | 85.4 |
| Canford Cliffs | Neighbourhood | 8,280 | 687 | 83.0 |
| Alderney & Bourne Valley | Neighbourhood | 16,794 | 1,346 | 80.1 |
| Boscombe East & Pokesdown | Neighbourhood | 11,567 | 911 | 78.8 |
| Newtown & Heatherlands | Neighbourhood | 18,247 | 1,381 | 75.7 |
| Burton & Grange | Neighbourhood | 9,215 | 692 | 75.1 |
| Hamworthy | Neighbourhood | 14,454 | 1,064 | 73.6 |
| Poole | Town | 145,151 | 10,536 | 72.6 |
| Talbot & Branksome Woods | Neighbourhood | 14,466 | 1,020 | 70.5 |
| Littledown & Iford | Neighbourhood | 9,992 | 695 | 69.6 |
| Queen's Park | Neighbourhood | 11,917 | 732 | 61.4 |
| Creekmoor | Neighbourhood | 9,747 | 597 | 61.2 |
| Commons | Neighbourhood | 10,413 | 627 | 60.2 |
| Canford Heath | Neighbourhood | 14,084 | 820 | 58.2 |
| Christchurch (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole) | Town | 47,787 | 2,754 | 57.6 |
| Bearwood & Merley | Neighbourhood | 14,381 | 819 | 57.0 |
| Bearwood | Town | 5,072 | 281 | 55.4 |
| Parkstone | Neighbourhood | 12,102 | 655 | 54.1 |
| East Southbourne & Tuckton | Neighbourhood | 9,698 | 498 | 51.4 |
| West Southbourne | Neighbourhood | 9,273 | 472 | 50.9 |
| Penn Hill | Neighbourhood | 11,963 | 598 | 50.0 |
| Moordown | Neighbourhood | 10,570 | 526 | 49.8 |
| Redhill & Northbourne | Neighbourhood | 10,106 | 462 | 45.7 |
| Oakdale | Neighbourhood | 10,595 | 400 | 37.8 |
| Mudeford, Stanpit & West Highcliffe | Neighbourhood | 11,041 | 398 | 36.0 |
| Broadstone | Neighbourhood | 10,274 | 321 | 31.2 |
| Merley | Town | 6,102 | 155 | 25.4 |
| Highcliffe & Walkford | Neighbourhood | 9,135 | 227 | 24.8 |
Police.uk records each crime at an approximate location, usually the centre of a nearby street or a landmark, to protect victims' privacy. These are the locations with the most reports in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 2,329 |
| On or near Supermarket | 1,672 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 1,191 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 601 |
| On or near Nightclub | 534 |
| On or near Lansdowne Crescent | 404 |
| On or near Hospital | 321 |
| On or near Sports/Recreation Area | 307 |
| On or near Theme/Adventure Park | 283 |
| On or near Pine Road | 270 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole over the 12 months to July 2026. Many cases are still open when the data is published, and anti-social behaviour has no outcome recorded, so these shares change as investigations finish.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 9,740 | 27.5% |
| Not recorded | 9,252 | 26.1% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 8,395 | 23.7% |
| Under investigation | 2,896 | 8.2% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 1,625 | 4.6% |
| Status update unavailable | 775 | 2.2% |
| Local resolution | 745 | 2.1% |
| Court result unavailable | 596 | 1.7% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 503 | 1.4% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 425 | 1.2% |
| Offender given a caution | 247 | 0.7% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 157 | 0.4% |
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole has an estimated population of 408,967. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole sits in decile 6.1, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 16.1% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 62.1% |
| Aged 65 and over | 21.7% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 63.5% |
| Social rented homes | 11.0% |
| Private rented homes | 25.4% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.1 |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 4.5% |
Is Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole a safe place to live?
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole recorded 86.6 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4. Crime is concentrated in a small number of places within most areas, often busy centres and transport hubs, so the rate for a single street can differ a lot from the area as a whole.
What is the most common crime in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 11,029 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (9,252).
Is crime in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole going up or down?
Recorded crime in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole was down 4% on the year before: 35,434 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 36,919 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole?
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole is policed by Dorset. Non-emergency crimes can be reported online to the force or by calling 101; in an emergency call 999.
How are these crime rates calculated?
Each rate is the number of crimes recorded by the police in the 12 months to July 2026, divided by the resident population and multiplied by 1,000. Crime data is from data.police.uk and population estimates are from the Office for National Statistics.
Figures are police-recorded crime published on data.police.uk, covering August 2017 to July 2026. Each crime is counted in the small area (LSOA) where it was recorded and added up to Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.