Bournemouth Crime Rate January 2026 | Monthly Statistics

Bournemouth's crime rate in January 2026 stood at 7.4 per 1,000 residents, placing it 8.8% above the UK average of 6.8 per 1,000. This figure reflects a combination of local factors, including the area's status as a major coastal resort with high seasonal footfall. The most prevalent crime category was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 30.9% of all reported incidents, followed by anti-social behaviour (21.7%) and shoplifting (11.1%). These patterns align with Bournemouth's character as a tourist destination, where short-term rental properties and transient populations may contribute to elevated anti-social behaviour rates. Seasonal context also plays a role: January, as a post-holiday period, saw reduced retail footfall compared to December, which may explain the relatively lower shoplifting figures compared to the previous month. However, the overall rate remains higher than the UK average, suggesting persistent challenges in managing crime in this built-up area. The dominance of violent crime over property crime (violence at 30.9% vs property at 39.6%) contrasts with typical urban centres, where property crime often dominates, highlighting the unique demographic and socioeconomic dynamics at play in Bournemouth.

January 2026 saw significant month-on-month shifts in crime patterns, with theft from the person increasing by 100% (from 8 to 16 incidents) and shoplifting rising by 28.5% (from 130 to 167). These increases may be linked to post-holiday economic pressures or changes in local retail activity. Conversely, possession of weapons dropped by 50% (from 12 to 6), a decline that could reflect seasonal factors or targeted policing efforts. Bournemouth's anti-social behaviour rate (1.6 per 1,000) was 72% above the UK average of 0.9 per 1,000, a disparity that may be attributed to the area's high density of short-term accommodation and transient populations. Meanwhile, bicycle theft fell by 40% (from 25 to 15), due to colder weather reducing outdoor cycling activity. The violent crime category, though still the largest single category, was 8% below the UK average (2.3 vs 2.5 per 1,000), a contrast to other coastal resorts where violence often exceeds national averages. For residents, the sharp increase in theft from the person—now 16 incidents—may be a useful data point for local vigilance, particularly in areas with high foot traffic or crowded public spaces.

Bournemouth's January 2026 crime rate of 7.4 per 1,000 residents marked a 9.1% decrease from the previous month's 8.2 per 1,000, a decline that may reflect seasonal lulls in tourism and reduced retail activity during the winter months. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 48 crimes per day, a figure that translates to one reported crime for every 135 residents over the course of the month. This monthly exposure rate provides context for residents: living in Bournemouth means encountering a crime roughly every 135 people, a statistic that, while higher than the UK average, shows a slight improvement compared to the previous month. The population-scaled perspective highlights the need for continued community policing efforts, particularly in areas where anti-social behaviour and shoplifting remain elevated. While the overall rate remains above the UK average, the month-on-month decrease suggests that targeted interventions—such as those addressing anti-social behaviour in high-density areas—may be having a measurable impact. However, the persistent gap between Bournemouth's rates and the UK average underscores the importance of maintaining robust local crime prevention strategies, especially as the area transitions into busier tourist seasons.