Reading is the most dangerous cities in Berkshire, and is among the top 20 most dangerous overall out of Berkshire's 107 towns, villages, and cities. The overall crime rate in Reading in 2021 was 70 crimes per 1,000 people. This compares favourably to Berkshire's overall crime rate, coming in 7% lower than the Berkshire rate of 75 per 1,000 residents. For England, Wales, and Northern Ireland as a whole, Reading is among the top 20 safest city, and the 1,517th most dangerous location out of all towns, cities, and villages.
In December 2021, Reading had the worst crime rate in Berkshire for bicycle theft, with 23 crimes reported and a crime rate of 0.09 per 1,000 inhabitants. December 2021 was also a bad month for Reading residents, when it was Berkshire's most dangerous area for criminal damage and arson, recording 147 crimes at a rate of 0.57 per 1,000 residents. Reading recorded 96 reports of burglary during October 2021, making its crime rate of 0.37 the worst for burglary in Berkshire that month.
The most common crimes in Reading are violence and sexual offences, with 7,618 offences during 2021, giving a crime rate of 29. This is 17% higher than 2020's figure of 6,291 offences and a difference of 5.14 from 2020's crime rate of 24. Reading's least common crime is robbery, with 165 offences recorded in 2021, a decrease of 44% from 2020's figure of 238 crimes.
Most Dangerous
Cities, Berkshire
2.0% lower, regional crime rate
South East
8% lower, national crime rate
England, Wales & NI
As of 2022, the crime rate in Reading is 2.0% lower than the South East and 8% lower than the England, Wales & Northern Ireland overall figure.
| Reading | |
| South East | |
| England, Wales & NI |
Incidents mapped in Reading represent the time frame between May 2019 and April 2022. Each point on the map represents an area where crimes have been recorded locally.
Last updated: 02 Jun, 2022
Hover over a point to see a breakdown of crime types recorded at that location. You can also filter by individual crime types, or use a combinations of offences to visualize the data you need.
Last updated: 02 Jun, 2022
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| Year | Crime Rate per 1,000 people | Total Crimes |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 70 | 18,217 |
| 2020 | 61 | 15,858 |
| 2019 | 59 | 15,214 |
| 2018 | 60 | 15,573 |
| 2017 | 57 | 14,630 |
| 2016 | 51 | 13,267 |
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| Reading | Berkshire | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crime | Count | Rate | Count | Rate | Rate Difference |
| Anti-Social Behaviour | 2,196 | 8.50 | 9,477 | 10.35 | 22% safer |
| Bicycle Theft | 563 | 2.18 | 1,671 | 1.83 | 16% more dangerous |
| Burglary | 749 | 2.90 | 2,836 | 3.10 | 7% safer |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | 1,534 | 5.94 | 6,434 | 7.03 | 18% safer |
| Drugs | 687 | 2.66 | 2,450 | 2.68 | 0.75% safer |
| Other Crime | 256 | 0.99 | 1,076 | 1.18 | 19% safer |
| Other Theft | 1,537 | 5.95 | 5,578 | 6.09 | 2.4% safer |
| Possession of Weapons | 173 | 0.67 | 550 | 0.60 | 10% more dangerous |
| Public Order | 2,440 | 9.44 | 9,508 | 10.39 | 10% safer |
| Robbery | 165 | 0.64 | 446 | 0.49 | 23% more dangerous |
| Shoplifting | 1,023 | 3.96 | 3,191 | 3.49 | 12% more dangerous |
| Theft From the Person | 356 | 1.38 | 1,078 | 1.18 | 14% more dangerous |
| Vehicle Crime | 1,116 | 4.32 | 5,066 | 5.54 | 28% safer |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | 7,618 | 29.48 | 29,003 | 31.69 | 7% safer |
View crime percentage over time for
| Date | Crime Type | Location | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 2022 | Vehicle crime | On or near Denbeigh Place | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| April 2022 | Shoplifting | On or near Supermarket | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| April 2022 | Vehicle crime | On or near Badgers Rise | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| April 2022 | Bicycle theft | On or near Chester Street | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| April 2022 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Halcyon Terrace | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| April 2022 | Bicycle theft | On or near Sports/Recreation Area | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| April 2022 | Criminal damage and arson | On or near Beatty Drive | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| April 2022 | Burglary | On or near Berkeley Avenue | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| April 2022 | Public order | On or near Petrol Station | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| April 2022 | Public order | On or near Tylers Place | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| April 2022 | Burglary | On or near Armadale Court | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| April 2022 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Mallory Avenue | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| April 2022 | Public order | On or near Thames Avenue | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| April 2022 | Public order | On or near Buxton Avenue | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| April 2022 | Vehicle crime | On or near Brunswick Street | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| April 2022 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near St Michael'S Road | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| April 2022 | Other theft | On or near Stansfield Close | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| April 2022 | Bicycle theft | On or near West Street | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| April 2022 | Criminal damage and arson | On or near Buckingham Drive | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| April 2022 | Criminal damage and arson | On or near Rockbourne Gardens | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| Crime Rate Per 1,000 Residents | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crime | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | Trend |
| Anti-Social Behaviour | 12 | 9 | 10 | 8 | Safer |
| Bicycle Theft | 3.0 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 2.2 | Safer |
| Burglary | 4.5 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 2.9 | Safer |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | Safer |
| Drugs | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.5 | 2.7 | Getting worse |
| Other Crime | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 0.99 | Getting worse |
| Other Theft | 7 | 6 | 4.9 | 6 | Safer |
| Possession of Weapons | 0.66 | 0.66 | 0.65 | 0.67 | Getting worse |
| Public Order | 2.6 | 3.4 | 4.6 | 9 | Getting worse |
| Robbery (inc. mugging) | 0.98 | 0.91 | 0.92 | 0.64 | Safer |
| Shoplifting | 4.8 | 3.9 | 3.2 | 4.0 | Safer |
| Theft From the Person (inc. pickpocketing) | 1.6 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 1.4 | Safer |
| Vehicle Crime | 5 | 4.7 | 5 | 4.3 | Safer |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | 20 | 22 | 24 | 29 | Getting worse |
We only display green spaces in Reading that are named, and have had crimes recorded within their boundaries during 2021.
| Name | ASB | Drugs | Public Order | Robbery | VSO | All Others | Crimes per Hectare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coley Recreation Ground | 1 | - | - | - | - | 2 | 0.67 |
| Cotswold Recreation Ground | - | - | 1 | - | - | 2 | 0.79 |
| Maiden Erlegh Park | 2 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 0.28 |
| Mapledurham Playing Fields | - | - | - | - | 1 | 0 | 0.09 |
| Meadway Recreation Ground | 4 | - | - | - | 7 | 6 | 4.6 |
| Robert Hewett Recreation Ground | 3 | 1 | - | - | 1 | 2 | 21 |
| South Lake Park | - | - | 1 | - | 1 | 1 | 0.25 |
| Spring Gardens Recreation Ground | - | - | - | - | 4 | 4 | 34 |
| Victoria Recreation Ground | 2 | - | - | - | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| City | Crime Rate | Rate Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Barnet | 67.08 | 5% safer |
| Reading | 70.49 | - |
| Croydon | 82.48 | 15% more dangerous |
| Sheffield | 90.05 | 22% more dangerous |
| Bristol | 90.52 | 22% more dangerous |
| Coventry | 102.24 | 31% more dangerous |
| Leicester | 111.59 | 37% more dangerous |
| Liverpool | 123.06 | 43% more dangerous |
| Birmingham | 129.64 | 46% more dangerous |
| Bradford | 132.28 | 47% more dangerous |
| Leeds | 150.94 | 53% more dangerous |
Reading Central is the most dangerous neighbourhood in Reading, followed by Norcot South in second place, and Southcote as the third most dangerous area. Reading's safest neighbourhoods are, in order, Caversham Emmer Green, Caversham Heights, and Lower Earley North.
| Neighbourhood | Crime Count | Crime Rate | Danger Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calcot South | 274 | 49 | 14th |
| Caversham Balmore Park | 336 | 42 | 18th |
| Caversham Emmer Green | 238 | 32 | 21st |
| Caversham Heights | 175 | 24 | 22nd |
| Coley Park | 809 | 93 | Ninth |
| Earley | 456 | 46 | 16th |
| Leighton Park | 718 | 75 | 12th |
| Lower Caversham | 623 | 79 | 11th |
| Lower Earley North | 248 | 24 | 23rd |
| Lower Earley South | 354 | 45 | 17th |
| Norcot North | 757 | 95 | Eighth |
| Norcot South | 1,349 | 148 | Second |
| Palmer Park | 1,117 | 106 | Fourth |
| Reading Central | 4,217 | 287 | First |
| Sonning & Woodley North | 290 | 38 | 19th |
| Southampton Street & Redlands Road | 1,092 | 104 | Fifth |
| Southcote | 927 | 107 | Third |
| Southlake | 296 | 34 | 20th |
| Tilehurst North | 392 | 52 | 13th |
| Tilehurst South | 763 | 103 | Sixth |
| Whitley Wood | 699 | 98 | Seventh |
| Wokingham Road | 670 | 82 | Tenth |
| Woodley South | 352 | 49 | 15th |
Showing the safest and most dangerous parts of Reading for specific criminal activity, with crime count and rate shown in brackets.
| Crime Type | Safest Neighbourhood | Most Dangerous Neighbourhood |
|---|---|---|
| Anti-Social Behaviour | Caversham Heights (24) | Reading Central (375) |
| Bicycle Theft | Caversham Emmer Green (1) | Reading Central (240) |
| Burglary | Lower Earley South (6) | Reading Central (129) |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | Caversham Heights (11) | Reading Central (257) |
| Drugs | Caversham Heights (2) | Reading Central (185) |
| Other Crime | Lower Earley North (2) | Reading Central (37) |
| Other Theft | Lower Earley South (12) | Reading Central (405) |
| Possession of Weapons | Lower Earley North (1) | Reading Central (62) |
| Public Order | Caversham Heights (18) | Reading Central (674) |
| Robbery (inc. mugging) | Earley (1) | Reading Central (55) |
| Shoplifting | Caversham Emmer Green (3) | Reading Central (434) |
| Theft From the Person (inc. pickpocketing) | Earley (2) | Reading Central (160) |
| Vehicle Crime | Lower Earley South (12) | Norcot South (99) |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | Lower Earley North (92) | Reading Central (1,457) |
Looking at the months the UK was in lockdown in 2020 due to Covid-19, how did crime rates in Reading change compared to the same month in 2019? The biggest increase in lockdown crime came in December, when Reading saw a 113% increase in public order. Reading saw a large fall in theft from the person during August, when it fell by 79% compared to August in 2019. Other Theft saw a fall in every month of Reading's lockdown.
| Crime | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anti-Social Behaviour | +5% | +6% | -12% | -12% | +5% | +18% | +6% | +6% | +18% | +24% |
| Bicycle Theft | +52% | -24% | -40% | +36% | +35% | +21% | - | -42% | -17% | -19% |
| Burglary | +31% | +8% | +1% | +19% | +8% | +21% | +11% | -19% | -5% | -52% |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | -10% | -21% | -17% | -5% | +12% | -4% | +1% | -18% | -18% | +1% |
| Drugs | +14% | -5% | -2% | +32% | +33% | +9% | +78% | -22% | +71% | +17% |
| Other Crime | -27% | -40% | - | -13% | +25% | +13% | +57% | +35% | +40% | -8% |
| Other Theft | -13% | -58% | -20% | -32% | -32% | -47% | -24% | -2% | -12% | - |
| Possession of Weapons | -42% | -36% | +70% | +6% | +33% | +38% | +70% | +100% | -45% | -27% |
| Public Order | -17% | -19% | +22% | +19% | +21% | +31% | +59% | +46% | +103% | +113% |
| Robbery | -10% | -31% | - | -23% | +57% | -11% | +30% | -58% | +50% | -47% |
| Shoplifting | -22% | -66% | -52% | -37% | +4% | -18% | +36% | +35% | -35% | -37% |
| Theft From the Person | +20% | -64% | -50% | -59% | -38% | -79% | -3% | +8% | -26% | -50% |
| Vehicle Crime | +15% | -6% | -29% | -10% | -15% | +18% | +29% | +97% | +86% | +18% |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | +25% | -12% | +4% | -7% | +20% | +36% | +10% | +4% | - | +12% |
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