How Safe is Bournemouth?

Written by regionadmin

8th June 2021

how safe is bournemouth

Is Bournemouth Safe?

Bournemouth, located on the South coast of England sits within the county of Dorset. It’s a coastal resort town with a population of over 510,000 according to World Population Review.  Bournemouth is a popular holiday destination for families looking to visit the seaside in the UK for their holidays. Over the past few decades, the area has seen a steep population growth, with the area clearly becoming more and more popular. But with more and more people living in the area, how safe is Bournemouth to live in?

Is Bournemouth A Safe Place To Live?

Is Bournemouth a safe place to live? Is a common question asked about the area. In general, Bournemouth is thought of as a safe place to live and work. It does not hold a bad reputation for being particularly unsafe and is seen as being quite a nice area to live in. especially due to being so close to the coastline. This makes it a very desirable area to live in and to visit. Numbo gives the area a very high rating on how safe it is to walk alone during the day, meaning the streets of Bournemouth are quite safe and secure.

Is Bournemouth Rough?

The question many people want to be answered before visiting or moving to an area such as Bournemouth; is Bournemouth rough? A simple answer is some areas are. As with most towns in the UK, there are certain parts of Bournemouth that are considered rough. One area within Bournemouth, Boscombe, has been named one of the ‘worst places to live in the UK’ according to Bournemouth Echo. Which doesn’t give a good reputation for certain parts of Bournemouth!

Bournemouth crime

Is Bournemouth Safe At Night?

Bournemouth is pretty safe after dark according to Numbeo. They give the area a moderate rating for safety when walking alone at night. However, with every town or city, there are risks that come with nightfall. Criminal activity will always increase as the sun goes down, and criminals take advantage of the dark. Therefore, it is always best to be cautious when out at night wherever you are, particularly if you are alone.

Bournemouth is home to many clubs and bars, as well as pubs and the usual hotspots for criminal behaviour in towns. With drunken behaviour comes antisocial behaviour, fights and criminal damage. Meaning that the streets of a once safe town could now become risky and troublesome to walk down.

Is Bournemouth Beach Dangerous?

In terms of crime and safety from criminals on Bournemouth beach, there isn’t too much to worry about. The beach attracts families, both local and visiting on holiday, to the area. Therefore, the area doesn’t pose that much danger in that respect. Beaches in general though can become dangerous at nighttime, with criminal damage and drunken behaviour occurring in the general area around beaches, so that may be something to watch out for.

Safety at the beach due to natural hazards is a big hazard for families and adults looking to stay safe. The sea can be dangerous to be around, so it is recommended to check out local advice such as beach safety in Bournemouth sites to ensure you know how to keep safe.

Bournemouth Crime Rate

A common question asked is “does Bournemouth have a high crime rate?”. Overall, Bournemouth’s crime rate isn’t overly high, however, it’s not particularly good either. The increase in crime over the past 3 years is labeled as high by Numbeo, with a rating of 67.40 on their crime index. This shows a worrying trend that crime in the area could be on the rise for some time more.

The highest reported crime during March 2021 was anti-social behaviour crimes, with 265 cases reported in that time. Violence and sexual offences came in the second spot with 131 cases. These figures come from Police UK.

Plumplot ranks Bournemouth as the 33rd lowest area in the UK (between April 2020-march 2021) for violent crime rate out of 99 England and Wales’ postcode areas. This shows that Bournemouth, compared to other areas in England and Wales, has a rather low violent crime rate in comparison. Also, out of the national average for violent crime statistics, Bournemouth is only 90% of that national average, giving the area a good ranking in terms of violent crime.

Conclusion

I think it’s clear that although Bournemouth may be a nice area in general to live or visit, with its sandy beach and lively center, certain areas can be quite rough and dangerous. With crime in the area rising, there is a risk of Bournemouth’s safety level dropping, and the area is considered dangerous and rough.

Want to know all the latest South West news? Head over to our news page where you can find articles about what the crime in Dorset is like and whether Bristol is a good place to live.

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