Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
BH15 · Poole
172
crimes in February 2026
Near national average
BH19 · Dorset
18
crimes in February 2026
Below national average
Swanage has less crime — 18 vs 172 incidents in February 2026.
Poole recorded substantially more crime than Swanage in February 2026 — 172 incidents compared to 18, a 9.6x difference. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Poole sees higher rates of Criminal damage & arson (18), while Swanage has more Shoplifting (3). Both areas sit near the national average, with modest differences in their overall safety profile.
Full reports cover 24 months of trends, ward breakdowns, outcome rates, and a detailed safety score — from £4.99.
Based on February 2026 Police data, Swanage recorded fewer crimes than Poole — 18 vs 172 incidents. That is 90% fewer crimes. Swanage is also below the national average for crime.
The main difference lies in crime type. In February 2026, Poole saw higher rates of Criminal damage & arson while Swanage had more Shoplifting. Overall, Swanage recorded fewer total crimes (18 vs 172).