Crime in Tilehurst Birch Copse: statistics, rates and trends
515 crimes were recorded in Tilehurst Birch Copse in the 12 months to August 2026, 65.6 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 3% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Tilehurst Birch Copse at a glance
- Crime trends in Tilehurst Birch Copse
- Types of crime in Tilehurst Birch Copse
- Tilehurst Birch Copse compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Tilehurst Birch Copse
- What happened after crimes were reported in Tilehurst Birch Copse
- Demographics of Tilehurst Birch Copse
- Questions about crime in Tilehurst Birch Copse
- About this data
Crime map
Shoplifting (158), violence and sexual offences (147) and anti-social behaviour (47) made up 68% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 2,409th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lower half.
| Measure | Tilehurst Birch Copse | West Berkshire | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 515 | 10,756 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 65.6 | 65.1 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -3% | -4% | -1% |
| Population | 7,845 | 165,112 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Tilehurst Birch Copse peaked in the year to August 2022 (621 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2018 (484). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it rose 6%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 515 | 65.6 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 530 | 67.6 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 552 | 70.4 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 531 | 67.7 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 621 | 79.2 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 494 | 63.0 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 509 | 64.9 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 567 | 72.3 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 484 | 61.7 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 48 |
| July 2026 | 43 |
| June 2026 | 49 |
| May 2026 | 41 |
| April 2026 | 40 |
| March 2026 | 48 |
| February 2026 | 26 |
| January 2026 | 32 |
| December 2025 | 25 |
| November 2025 | 67 |
| October 2025 | 53 |
| September 2025 | 43 |
Compared with England and Wales, Tilehurst Birch Copse recorded notably more shoplifting (2.4 times the national rate), and notably less anti-social behaviour (61% below) and violence and sexual offences (45% below). On the year before, anti-social behaviour rose from 39 to 47 and criminal damage and arson rose from 31 to 36.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shoplifting | 158 | 20.1 | 8.5 | +14% |
| Violence and sexual offences | 147 | 18.7 | 34.2 | -1% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 47 | 6.0 | 15.4 | +21% |
| Public order | 46 | 5.9 | 6.7 | -10% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 36 | 4.6 | 6.7 | +16% |
| Other theft | 36 | 4.6 | 6.4 | +9% |
| Burglary | 12 | 1.5 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 11 | 1.4 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Robbery | 8 | 1.0 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Drugs | 6 | 0.8 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Other crime | 3 | 0.4 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 3 | 0.4 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 2 | 0.3 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
2 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Tilehurst Birch Copse; the highest is Burghfield & Mortimer (84.7 per 1,000) and the lowest Basildon, West Berkshire (20.9).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Tilehurst Birch Copse |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tilehurst South & Holybrook | 410 | 52.5 | -20% |
| Theale | 241 | 77.7 | +18% |
| Tilehurst & Purley | 371 | 33.2 | -49% |
| Pangbourne | 210 | 62.0 | -5% |
| Bradfield | 338 | 44.2 | -33% |
| Burghfield & Mortimer | 838 | 84.7 | +29% |
| Basildon | 63 | 20.9 | -68% |
| Aldermaston | 243 | 56.7 | -14% |
The 10 locations below account for 66% of the crime recorded in Tilehurst Birch Copse over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Petrol Station” (140).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Petrol Station | 140 |
| On or near Park/Open Space | 109 |
| On or near Vanlore Way | 16 |
| On or near Poppy Way | 15 |
| On or near Halpin Close | 13 |
| On or near Blewbury Drive | 11 |
| On or near Little Heath Road | 11 |
| On or near St Birinus Road | 10 |
| On or near Royal Avenue | 9 |
| On or near Hildens Drive | 7 |
Of the 468 crimes in Tilehurst Birch Copse with a recorded outcome, 43% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 3.4% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 47 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 199 | 42.5% | 35.3% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 139 | 29.7% | 34.5% |
| Under investigation | 53 | 11.3% | 11.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 20 | 4.3% | 4.7% |
| Court result unavailable | 18 | 3.8% | 2.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 16 | 3.4% | 5.2% |
| Local resolution | 12 | 2.6% | 3.1% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 5 | 1.1% | 1.3% |
| Suspect charged as part of another case | 3 | 0.6% | 0.0% |
| Offender given a caution | 2 | 0.4% | 0.6% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.2% | 0.5% |
Tilehurst Birch Copse has an estimated population of 7,845 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has less private renting (9.7%, against 20.3%), fewer students (4.6%, against 7.9%) and less social housing (10%, against 17%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Tilehurst Birch Copse average decile 8.5 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.
| Measure | Tilehurst Birch Copse | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 17.8% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 23.8% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 60.0% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.6% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 26.7% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.6% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 27.8% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 18.0% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 14.5% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 79.9% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 10.3% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 9.7% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 8.5 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Tilehurst Birch Copse a safe place to live?
Tilehurst Birch Copse recorded 65.6 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 2,409th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were shoplifting.
What is the most common crime in Tilehurst Birch Copse?
Shoplifting was the most common category, with 158 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by violence and sexual offences (147).
Is crime in Tilehurst Birch Copse going up or down?
Recorded crime in Tilehurst Birch Copse was down 3% on the year before: 515 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 530 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Tilehurst Birch Copse?
About 7,845 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 24% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Tilehurst Birch Copse?
Tilehurst Birch Copse 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.