Crime in Battle, Reading: statistics, rates and trends
1,238 crimes were recorded in Battle, Reading in the 12 months to July 2026, 105.0 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 3% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Battle, Reading at a glance
- Crime trends in Battle, Reading
- Types of crime in Battle, Reading
- Battle, Reading compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Battle, Reading
- What happened after crimes were reported in Battle, Reading
- Population and deprivation in Battle, Reading
- Questions about crime in Battle, Reading
- About this data
1,238 crimes were recorded in Battle, Reading in the 12 months to July 2026, 105.0 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 3% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 501 reports (40% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Battle, Reading has the 1,122nd highest crime rate.
| Measure | Battle, Reading | Reading | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 1,238 | 20,512 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 105.0 | 112.1 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -3% | +6% | -1% |
| Population | 11,788 | 182,907 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Battle, Reading was highest in the year to July 2023 (1,584 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2018 (1,145). Over the whole period it rose 8%, 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.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to July 2026 | 1,238 | 105.0 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 1,275 | 108.2 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 1,292 | 109.6 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 1,584 | 134.4 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 1,445 | 122.6 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 1,533 | 130.0 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 1,306 | 110.8 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 1,203 | 102.1 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 1,145 | 97.1 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 111 |
| June 2026 | 136 |
| May 2026 | 108 |
| April 2026 | 87 |
| March 2026 | 104 |
| February 2026 | 85 |
| January 2026 | 98 |
| December 2025 | 92 |
| November 2025 | 86 |
| October 2025 | 121 |
| September 2025 | 98 |
| August 2025 | 112 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Battle, Reading 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 public order, other theft, robbery.
The largest increases were in public order (+45%) and robbery (+41%). The largest falls were in drugs (-41%) and burglary (-28%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 501 | 42.5 | 1.24 | -4% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 176 | 14.9 | 0.97 | -4% |
| Public order | 116 | 9.8 | 1.48 | +45% |
| Other theft | 101 | 8.6 | 1.34 | +4% |
| Vehicle crime | 69 | 5.9 | 1.19 | -19% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 66 | 5.6 | 0.83 | -10% |
| Shoplifting | 64 | 5.4 | 0.66 | -10% |
| Robbery | 31 | 2.6 | 1.95 | +41% |
| Burglary | 29 | 2.5 | 0.70 | -28% |
| Other crime | 24 | 2.0 | 0.96 | +50% |
| Bicycle theft | 23 | 2.0 | 2.37 | -26% |
| Drugs | 17 | 1.4 | 0.44 | -41% |
| Theft from the person | 13 | 1.1 | 0.65 | -24% |
| Possession of weapons | 8 | 0.7 | 0.70 | -20% |
Violence and sexual offences in Battle, Reading
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Battle, Reading recorded 501 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (42.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 4% on the year before. It made up 40.5% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Battle, Reading
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Battle, Reading recorded 176 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (14.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 4% on the year before. It made up 14.2% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Battle, Reading
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Battle, Reading recorded 116 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 45% on the year before. It made up 9.4% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Battle, Reading
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Battle, Reading recorded 101 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 4% on the year before. It made up 8.2% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Battle, Reading
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Battle, Reading recorded 69 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 19% on the year before. It made up 5.6% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Battle, Reading
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Battle, Reading recorded 66 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 10% on the year before. It made up 5.3% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Battle, Reading
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Battle, Reading recorded 64 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 10% on the year before. It made up 5.2% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Battle, Reading
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Battle, Reading recorded 31 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 41% on the year before. It made up 2.5% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Battle, Reading
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Battle, Reading recorded 29 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 28% on the year before. It made up 2.3% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Battle, Reading
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Battle, Reading recorded 24 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 50% on the year before. It made up 1.9% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Battle, Reading
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Battle, Reading recorded 23 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 26% on the year before. It made up 1.9% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Battle, Reading
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Battle, Reading recorded 17 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 41% on the year before. It made up 1.4% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Battle, Reading
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Battle, Reading recorded 13 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 24% on the year before. It made up 1.1% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Battle, Reading
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Battle, Reading recorded 8 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 20% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Battle, Reading, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Battle, Reading.
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 Battle, Reading over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 148 |
| On or near Parking Area | 103 |
| On or near Battle Place | 74 |
| On or near Portman Way | 61 |
| On or near Catherine Street | 56 |
| On or near Battle Square | 54 |
| On or near Edinburgh Road | 41 |
| On or near Sports/Recreation Area | 38 |
| On or near Little John'S Lane | 31 |
| On or near Richmond Road | 31 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Battle, Reading 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.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 410 | 33.1% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 364 | 29.4% |
| Not recorded | 176 | 14.2% |
| Under investigation | 141 | 11.4% |
| Status update unavailable | 47 | 3.8% |
| Local resolution | 31 | 2.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 24 | 1.9% |
| Court result unavailable | 19 | 1.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 16 | 1.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 7 | 0.6% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.2% |
| Suspect charged as part of another case | 1 | 0.1% |
Battle, Reading has an estimated population of 11,788. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Battle, Reading sits in decile 4.1, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Battle, Reading |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 20.9% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 72.8% |
| Aged 65 and over | 6.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 44.0% |
| Social rented homes | 10.2% |
| Private rented homes | 45.8% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 4.1 |
Is Battle, Reading a safe place to live?
Battle, Reading recorded 105.0 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4. Crime is concentrated in a small number of places within most areas, often busy centres and transport hubs, so the rate for a single street can differ a lot from the area as a whole.
What is the most common crime in Battle, Reading?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 501 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (176).
Is crime in Battle, Reading going up or down?
Recorded crime in Battle, Reading was down 3% on the year before: 1,238 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 1,275 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Battle, Reading?
Battle, Reading is policed by Thames Valley. Non-emergency crimes can be reported online to the force or by calling 101; in an emergency call 999.
How are these crime rates calculated?
Each rate is the number of crimes recorded by the police in the 12 months to July 2026, divided by the resident population and multiplied by 1,000. Crime data is from data.police.uk and population estimates are from the Office for National Statistics.
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 Battle, Reading. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.