Bournemouth Crime Rate October 2025 | Monthly Statistics

Bournemouth's built-up area recorded a crime rate of 8.3 per 1,000 residents in October 2025, placing it 7.8% above the UK average of 7.7 per 1,000. This rate translates to a tangible daily risk for residents: with 54 crimes reported each day, the likelihood of encountering a crime in the course of a month is approximately 1 in 121 residents. The most prevalent crime types were violence and sexual offences (30.6% of total incidents), followed by anti-social behaviour (24.3%) and vehicle crime (8.3%). These patterns align with Bournemouth's character as a coastal town with a mix of residential areas, tourist attractions, and commuter hubs. The dominance of violent crime may reflect the concentration of nightlife venues in certain districts, while anti-social behaviour likely stems from the same areas' high foot traffic and social interactions. Seasonal factors also played a role: October's darker evenings, combined with Halloween, may have contributed to increased incidents of violence and public order offences, though the latter actually decreased by 8.8% compared to the previous month. Meanwhile, vehicle crime rose in line with the area's reliance on road transport, particularly during the autumn season when weather conditions can impact driver behaviour. The overall crime rate, while slightly higher than the UK average, remains within a range consistent with other major coastal towns in England, where similar demographic and geographic factors influence crime profiles.

October 2025 saw a dramatic 150% increase in bicycle theft, rising from 12 to 30 incidents. This jump, likely linked to darker evenings and increased cycling, contrasts sharply with a 41.7% drop in shoplifting, which fell from 180 to 105 cases. The shift in crime mix also reveals a growing disparity compared to the UK average: anti-social behaviour in Bournemouth is 59% higher than the national rate, while violence and sexual offences are 6% below. Vehicle crime, which rose by 35.3% to 138 incidents, highlights the vulnerability of parked cars in a town with significant commuter traffic. For residents, the 150% spike in bicycle theft offers a clear warning to secure bikes, particularly as Halloween approaches and evening visibility decreases.

Bournemouth's crime rate in October 2025 rose by 2.1% compared to September, moving from 8.1 to 8.3 per 1,000 residents. This increase, though modest, places the area 7.8% above the UK average of 7.7 per 1,000. On a daily basis, the built-up area recorded approximately 54 crimes each day, a figure that translates to one reported crime for every 121 residents over the course of the month. This monthly exposure provides a tangible measure of risk for local residents, highlighting the frequency of incidents in a community of over 200,000 people. The rise in certain crime types—particularly bicycle theft and other theft—suggests shifting patterns that may reflect seasonal factors, such as increased cycling during darker evenings or changes in retail activity. These figures, when contextualised against the broader UK landscape, underscore the need for targeted local interventions without overgeneralising national trends.