Crime in Battle, Reading: statistics, rates and trends
1,248 crimes were recorded in Battle, Reading in the 12 months to August 2026, 105.9 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 4% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- 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
- Demographics of Battle, Reading
- Questions about crime in Battle, Reading
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (503), anti-social behaviour (169) and public order (122) made up 64% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 1,102nd of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the upper half.
| Measure | Battle, Reading | Reading | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 1,248 | 20,492 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 105.9 | 112.0 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -4% | +5% | -1% |
| Population | 11,788 | 182,907 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Battle, Reading peaked in the year to August 2023 (1,576 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2018 (1,143). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it rose 9%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 1,248 | 105.9 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 1,294 | 109.8 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 1,251 | 106.1 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 1,576 | 133.7 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 1,477 | 125.3 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 1,517 | 128.7 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 1,315 | 111.6 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 1,219 | 103.4 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 1,143 | 97.0 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 122 |
| 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 |
Compared with England and Wales, Battle, Reading recorded notably more bicycle theft (2.6 times the national rate), robbery (2.0 times the national rate) and public order (55% above the national rate), and notably less shoplifting (38% below) and burglary (21% below). On the year before, robbery rose from 20 to 32 and public order rose from 89 to 122, while bicycle theft fell from 31 to 25 and shoplifting fell from 76 to 62.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 503 | 42.7 | 34.2 | -4% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 169 | 14.3 | 15.4 | -6% |
| Public order | 122 | 10.3 | 6.7 | +37% |
| Other theft | 101 | 8.6 | 6.4 | -6% |
| Vehicle crime | 73 | 6.2 | 5.0 | -14% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 68 | 5.8 | 6.7 | -1% |
| Shoplifting | 62 | 5.3 | 8.5 | -18% |
| Burglary | 33 | 2.8 | 3.6 | -15% |
| Robbery | 32 | 2.7 | 1.4 | +60% |
| Bicycle theft | 25 | 2.1 | 0.8 | -19% |
| Other crime | 24 | 2.0 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Drugs | 18 | 1.5 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 11 | 0.9 | 1.7 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 7 | 0.6 | 1.0 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
4 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Battle, Reading; the highest is Abbey, Reading (429.2 per 1,000) and the lowest Kentwood (76.1).
The 10 locations below account for 50% of the crime recorded in Battle, Reading over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Supermarket” (150).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 150 |
| On or near Parking Area | 100 |
| On or near Battle Place | 70 |
| On or near Portman Way | 59 |
| On or near Catherine Street | 58 |
| On or near Battle Square | 49 |
| On or near Edinburgh Road | 39 |
| On or near Sports/Recreation Area | 39 |
| On or near Little John'S Lane | 33 |
| On or near Portman Road | 33 |
Of the 1,079 crimes in Battle, Reading with a recorded outcome, 38% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 2.3% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 169 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 413 | 38.3% | 35.3% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 360 | 33.4% | 34.5% |
| Under investigation | 160 | 14.8% | 11.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 52 | 4.8% | 4.7% |
| Local resolution | 27 | 2.5% | 3.1% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 25 | 2.3% | 5.2% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 16 | 1.5% | 1.3% |
| Court result unavailable | 15 | 1.4% | 2.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 8 | 0.7% | 0.6% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.2% | 0.5% |
| Suspect charged as part of another case | 1 | 0.1% | 0.0% |
Battle, Reading has an estimated population of 11,788 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has more private renting (46%, against 20%), fewer retired residents (7.1%, against 21.6%) and a younger population (6.3%, against 18.9%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Battle, Reading average decile 4.1 (1 = most deprived), more deprived than average.
| Measure | Battle, Reading | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 20.9% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 6.3% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 71.1% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 4.4% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 7.1% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 6.4% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 37.0% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 18.7% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 32.5% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 44.0% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 10.2% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 45.8% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 4.1 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Battle, Reading a safe place to live?
Battle, Reading recorded 105.9 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 1,102nd of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were bicycle theft and robbery.
What is the most common crime in Battle, Reading?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 503 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (169).
Is crime in Battle, Reading going up or down?
Recorded crime in Battle, Reading was down 4% on the year before: 1,248 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 1,294 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Battle, Reading?
About 11,788 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 6.3% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Battle, Reading?
Battle, Reading is policed by Thames Valley.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.