Crime in Reading district: statistics, rates and trends

20,512 crimes were recorded in Reading district in the 12 months to July 2026, 112.1 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 6% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 7,338 reports (36% of the total).

Of the 308 districts covered by this site, Reading district has the 64th highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in Reading district was highest in the year to July 2023 (21,433 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2019 (16,857). Over the whole period it rose 11%, against a fall of 4% across England and Wales. Rates use today's population for every year, so they show the direction of change rather than exact historic rates.

Month by month

The table shows every category of crime recorded in Reading district over the 12 months to July 2026. The index compares the local rate with England and Wales: 1.00 is the national rate, 2.00 is double it. Rates were well above the national level for shoplifting, other theft, public order.

The largest increases were in other crime (+36%) and robbery (+21%). The largest falls were in theft from the person (-35%) and vehicle crime (-16%).

Violence and sexual offences in Reading district

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Reading district recorded 7,338 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (40.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 11% on the year before. It made up 35.8% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Reading district

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Reading district recorded 3,160 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (17.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 16% on the year before. It made up 15.4% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Reading district

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Reading district recorded 1,963 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 9.6% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Reading district

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Reading district recorded 1,640 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 11% on the year before. It made up 8.0% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Reading district

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Reading district recorded 1,571 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 13% on the year before. It made up 7.7% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Reading district

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Reading district recorded 1,201 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.6 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 5.9% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Reading district

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Reading district recorded 913 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.0 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 16% on the year before. It made up 4.5% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Reading district

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Reading district recorded 647 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.5 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 2% on the year before. It made up 3.2% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Reading district

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Reading district recorded 523 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 16% on the year before. It made up 2.5% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Reading district

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Reading district recorded 441 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 2.1% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Reading district

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Reading district recorded 374 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.0 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 36% on the year before. It made up 1.8% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Reading district

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Reading district recorded 349 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 21% on the year before. It made up 1.7% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Reading district

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Reading district recorded 254 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 35% on the year before. It made up 1.2% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Reading district

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Reading district recorded 138 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.

Crime rates in the districts closest to Reading district, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Reading district.

18 areas within Reading district, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Abbey had the highest rate (431.4 per 1,000) and Caversham Heights the lowest (29.2). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.

Police.uk records each crime at an approximate location, usually the centre of a nearby street or a landmark, to protect victims' privacy. These are the locations with the most reports in Reading district over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Reading district over the 12 months to July 2026. Many cases are still open when the data is published, and anti-social behaviour has no outcome recorded, so these shares change as investigations finish.

Reading district has an estimated population of 182,907. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Reading district sits in decile 5.7, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.

Figures are police-recorded crime published on data.police.uk, covering August 2017 to July 2026. Each crime is counted in the small area (LSOA) where it was recorded and added up to Reading district. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.