Crime in Bournemouth Central: statistics, rates and trends
5,647 crimes were recorded in Bournemouth Central in the 12 months to August 2026, 295.8 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 6% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Bournemouth Central at a glance
- Crime trends in Bournemouth Central
- Types of crime in Bournemouth Central
- Bournemouth Central compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Bournemouth Central
- What happened after crimes were reported in Bournemouth Central
- Demographics of Bournemouth Central
- Questions about crime in Bournemouth Central
- About this data
Crime map
Anti-social behaviour (1,760), violence and sexual offences (1,634) and shoplifting (463) made up 68% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 72nd of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the highest tenth.
| Measure | Bournemouth Central | Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 5,647 | 35,930 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 295.8 | 87.9 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -6% | -1% | -1% |
| Population | 19,089 | 408,967 | 58,127,638 |
The year to August 2026 had the least recorded crime in Bournemouth Central of any year here (5,647 crimes). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 15%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 5,647 | 295.8 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 6,036 | 316.2 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 6,119 | 320.6 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 5,666 | 296.8 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 6,491 | 340.0 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 6,047 | 316.8 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 5,916 | 309.9 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 6,734 | 352.8 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 6,615 | 346.5 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 609 |
| July 2026 | 600 |
| June 2026 | 518 |
| May 2026 | 537 |
| April 2026 | 424 |
| March 2026 | 402 |
| February 2026 | 450 |
| January 2026 | 396 |
| December 2025 | 402 |
| November 2025 | 443 |
| October 2025 | 437 |
| September 2025 | 429 |
Compared with England and Wales, Bournemouth Central recorded notably more anti-social behaviour (6.0 times the national rate), drugs (4.2 times the national rate) and robbery (3.5 times the national rate). On the year before, robbery rose from 74 to 90 and drugs rose from 223 to 264, while bicycle theft fell from 102 to 52 and vehicle crime fell from 281 to 196.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anti-social behaviour | 1,760 | 92.2 | 15.4 | -4% |
| Violence and sexual offences | 1,634 | 85.6 | 34.2 | -6% |
| Shoplifting | 463 | 24.3 | 8.5 | +8% |
| Other theft | 339 | 17.8 | 6.4 | -24% |
| Public order | 306 | 16.0 | 6.7 | +7% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 282 | 14.8 | 6.7 | -14% |
| Drugs | 264 | 13.8 | 3.3 | +18% |
| Vehicle crime | 196 | 10.3 | 5.0 | -30% |
| Burglary | 123 | 6.4 | 3.6 | +2% |
| Robbery | 90 | 4.7 | 1.4 | +22% |
| Theft from the person | 59 | 3.1 | 1.7 | -29% |
| Bicycle theft | 52 | 2.7 | 0.8 | -49% |
| Possession of weapons | 42 | 2.2 | 1.0 | -11% |
| Other crime | 37 | 1.9 | 2.1 | -16% |
What each category covers: crime categories.
Bournemouth Central has a higher crime rate than all 8 of its nearest neighbourhoods.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Bournemouth Central |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Cliff & Springbourne | 1,770 | 103.9 | -65% |
| Westbourne & West Cliff | 1,440 | 128.7 | -56% |
| Queen's Park | 733 | 61.5 | -79% |
| Talbot & Branksome Woods | 990 | 68.4 | -77% |
| Boscombe West | 1,673 | 153.1 | -48% |
| Winton East | 1,595 | 128.6 | -57% |
| Wallisdown & Winton West | 1,036 | 94.8 | -68% |
| Moordown | 504 | 47.7 | -84% |
The 10 locations below account for 54% of the crime recorded in Bournemouth Central over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Parking Area” (774).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 774 |
| On or near Nightclub | 439 |
| On or near Lansdowne Crescent | 386 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 371 |
| On or near Police Station | 233 |
| On or near Theme/Adventure Park | 208 |
| On or near Avenue Lane | 178 |
| On or near Supermarket | 175 |
| On or near Further/Higher Educational Building | 147 |
| On or near Cumnor Road | 129 |
Of the 3,887 crimes in Bournemouth Central with a recorded outcome, 34% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 8.3% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 1,760 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 1,304 | 33.5% | 35.3% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 1,148 | 29.5% | 34.5% |
| Under investigation | 453 | 11.7% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 322 | 8.3% | 5.2% |
| Local resolution | 240 | 6.2% | 3.1% |
| Court result unavailable | 150 | 3.9% | 2.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 121 | 3.1% | 4.7% |
| Offender given a caution | 54 | 1.4% | 0.6% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 42 | 1.1% | 0.5% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 25 | 0.6% | 0.3% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 20 | 0.5% | 1.3% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 8 | 0.2% | 0.3% |
Bournemouth Central has an estimated population of 19,089 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has more students (36.7%, against 7.9%), more private renting (58%, against 20%) and more unemployed residents (7.4%, against 3.4%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Bournemouth Central average decile 5.0 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Bournemouth Central | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 7.0% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 9.0% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 47.2% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 7.4% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 10.9% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 36.7% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 35.5% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 10.3% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 44.0% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 32.3% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 9.2% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 58.4% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.0 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Bournemouth Central a safe place to live?
Bournemouth Central recorded 295.8 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 72nd of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were anti-social behaviour and drugs.
What is the most common crime in Bournemouth Central?
Anti-social behaviour was the most common category, with 1,760 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by violence and sexual offences (1,634).
Is crime in Bournemouth Central going up or down?
Recorded crime in Bournemouth Central was down 6% on the year before: 5,647 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 6,036 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Bournemouth Central?
About 19,089 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 9.0% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Bournemouth Central?
Bournemouth Central is policed by Dorset.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.