Crime in Christchurch (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole): statistics, rates and trends
2,773 crimes were recorded in Christchurch (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole) in the 12 months to August 2026, 58.0 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 4% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Christchurch (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole) at a glance
- Crime trends in Christchurch (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole)
- Types of crime in Christchurch (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole)
- Christchurch (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole) compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Christchurch (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole)
- Streets with the most crime in Christchurch (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole)
- What happened after crimes were reported in Christchurch (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole)
- Demographics of Christchurch (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole)
- Questions about crime in Christchurch (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole)
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (857), anti-social behaviour (782) and criminal damage and arson (220) made up 67% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 992nd of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lower half.
| Measure | Christchurch (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole) | Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 2,773 | 35,930 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 58.0 | 87.9 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +4% | -1% | -1% |
| Population | 47,787 | 408,967 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Christchurch (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole) peaked in the year to August 2021 (3,796 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2025 (2,677). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 25%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 2,773 | 58.0 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 2,677 | 56.0 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 3,039 | 63.6 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 3,173 | 66.4 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 3,460 | 72.4 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 3,796 | 79.4 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 3,517 | 73.6 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 3,571 | 74.7 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 3,673 | 76.9 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 277 |
| July 2026 | 299 |
| June 2026 | 273 |
| May 2026 | 264 |
| April 2026 | 175 |
| March 2026 | 230 |
| February 2026 | 253 |
| January 2026 | 216 |
| December 2025 | 174 |
| November 2025 | 177 |
| October 2025 | 237 |
| September 2025 | 198 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and drugs (79% below) and other crime (69% below) were well below it. On the year before, drugs rose from 22 to 33 and anti-social behaviour rose from 553 to 782, while shoplifting fell from 320 to 208 and public order fell from 157 to 120.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 857 | 17.9 | 34.2 | +2% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 782 | 16.4 | 15.4 | +41% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 220 | 4.6 | 6.7 | +5% |
| Shoplifting | 208 | 4.4 | 8.5 | -35% |
| Other theft | 185 | 3.9 | 6.4 | -17% |
| Vehicle crime | 144 | 3.0 | 5.0 | +12% |
| Public order | 120 | 2.5 | 6.7 | -24% |
| Burglary | 119 | 2.5 | 3.6 | +2% |
| Drugs | 33 | 0.7 | 3.3 | +50% |
| Other crime | 31 | 0.6 | 2.1 | +3% |
| Bicycle theft | 26 | 0.5 | 0.8 | -24% |
| Robbery | 26 | 0.5 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 17 | 0.4 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 5 | 0.1 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
3 of the 8 nearest towns have a higher crime rate than Christchurch (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole); the highest is Bournemouth (108.0 per 1,000) and the lowest Barton on Sea (24.3).
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Christchurch (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barton on Sea | 177 | 24.3 | -58% |
| New Milton | 1,021 | 97.7 | +68% |
| Bournemouth | 21,896 | 108.0 | +86% |
| Ashley (New Forest) | 308 | 38.6 | -34% |
| Ashley Heath | 319 | 39.2 | -32% |
| Ferndown | 545 | 39.6 | -32% |
| Ringwood | 920 | 71.3 | +23% |
| West Moors | 448 | 42.8 | -26% |
Of the 5 areas within Christchurch (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole), Christchurch Town had the highest crime rate (85.4 per 1,000) and Highcliffe & Walkford the lowest (23.2), 4 times apart.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christchurch Town | Neighbourhood | 10,161 | 868 | 85.4 |
| Burton & Grange | Neighbourhood | 9,215 | 714 | 77.5 |
| Commons | Neighbourhood | 10,413 | 628 | 60.3 |
| Mudeford, Stanpit & West Highcliffe | Neighbourhood | 11,041 | 404 | 36.6 |
| Highcliffe & Walkford | Neighbourhood | 9,135 | 212 | 23.2 |
The 10 locations below account for 31% of the crime recorded in Christchurch (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole) over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Parking Area” (258).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 258 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 136 |
| On or near Supermarket | 104 |
| On or near Bailey Drive | 99 |
| On or near High Street | 86 |
| On or near Park/Open Space | 42 |
| On or near Hunt Road | 37 |
| On or near Stony Lane South | 36 |
| On or near Church Street | 33 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 31 |
Of the 1,991 crimes in Christchurch (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole) with a recorded outcome, 41% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 2.8% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 782 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 807 | 40.5% | 35.3% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 618 | 31.0% | 34.5% |
| Under investigation | 245 | 12.3% | 11.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 67 | 3.4% | 4.7% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 56 | 2.8% | 5.2% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 42 | 2.1% | 1.3% |
| Local resolution | 41 | 2.1% | 3.1% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 35 | 1.8% | 0.5% |
| Court result unavailable | 29 | 1.5% | 2.5% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 24 | 1.2% | 0.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 18 | 0.9% | 0.6% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 7 | 0.4% | 0.3% |
Christchurch (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole) has an estimated population of 47,787 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has an older population (33%, against 19%), more retired residents (37%, against 22%) and fewer students (4.6%, against 7.9%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Christchurch (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole) average decile 7.0 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.
| Measure | Christchurch (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole) | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 14.7% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 32.7% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 49.0% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.3% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 36.9% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.6% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 30.0% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 17.1% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 15.6% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 73.3% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 12.5% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 14.2% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 7.0 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Christchurch (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole) a safe place to live?
Christchurch (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole) recorded 58.0 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 992nd of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Christchurch (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole)?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 857 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (782).
Is crime in Christchurch (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole) going up or down?
Recorded crime in Christchurch (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole) was up 4% on the year before: 2,773 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 2,677 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Christchurch (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole)?
About 47,787 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 33% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Christchurch (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole)?
Christchurch (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole) 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.