Crime in the Thames Valley Police area: statistics, rates and trends
193,968 crimes were recorded in the Thames Valley Police area in the 12 months to July 2026, 73.5 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and almost unchanged on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in the Thames Valley Police area at a glance
- Crime trends in the Thames Valley Police area
- Types of crime in the Thames Valley Police area
- The Thames Valley Police area compared with nearby police force areas
- Areas within the Thames Valley Police area
- What happened after crimes were reported in the Thames Valley Police area
- Population and deprivation in the Thames Valley Police area
- Questions about crime in the Thames Valley Police area
- About this data
193,968 crimes were recorded in the Thames Valley Police area in the 12 months to July 2026, 73.5 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and almost unchanged on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 74,065 reports (38% of the total).
Of the 42 police force areas covered by this site, the Thames Valley Police area has the 34th highest crime rate.
| Measure | the Thames Valley Police area | England | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 193,968 | 5,360,756 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 73.5 | 96.4 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +0% | -1% | -1% |
| Population | 2,640,201 | 55,610,437 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in the Thames Valley Police area was highest in the year to July 2023 (207,262 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2019 (173,498). 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.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to July 2026 | 193,968 | 73.5 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 193,090 | 73.1 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 195,509 | 74.1 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 207,262 | 78.5 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 203,299 | 77.0 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 190,691 | 72.2 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 176,813 | 67.0 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 173,498 | 65.7 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 174,552 | 66.1 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 18,657 |
| June 2026 | 17,478 |
| May 2026 | 17,342 |
| April 2026 | 16,066 |
| March 2026 | 16,243 |
| February 2026 | 14,192 |
| January 2026 | 14,738 |
| December 2025 | 14,428 |
| November 2025 | 15,567 |
| October 2025 | 15,878 |
| September 2025 | 15,979 |
| August 2025 | 17,400 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in the Thames Valley Police area 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 bicycle theft.
The largest increases were in other crime (+18%) and robbery (+16%). The largest falls were in theft from the person (-26%) and possession of weapons (-17%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 74,065 | 28.1 | 0.82 | +2% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 20,940 | 7.9 | 0.52 | +2% |
| Shoplifting | 18,755 | 7.1 | 0.86 | -5% |
| Public order | 15,223 | 5.8 | 0.87 | +3% |
| Other theft | 15,150 | 5.7 | 0.90 | +2% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 13,855 | 5.2 | 0.77 | -1% |
| Vehicle crime | 10,922 | 4.1 | 0.84 | -5% |
| Burglary | 6,693 | 2.5 | 0.72 | -0% |
| Drugs | 6,136 | 2.3 | 0.71 | +1% |
| Other crime | 4,279 | 1.6 | 0.77 | +18% |
| Bicycle theft | 2,935 | 1.1 | 1.35 | -5% |
| Robbery | 2,215 | 0.8 | 0.62 | +16% |
| Theft from the person | 1,625 | 0.6 | 0.36 | -26% |
| Possession of weapons | 1,175 | 0.4 | 0.46 | -17% |
Violence and sexual offences in the Thames Valley Police area
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. The Thames Valley Police area recorded 74,065 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (28.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 2% on the year before. It made up 38.2% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in the Thames Valley Police area
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. The Thames Valley Police area recorded 20,940 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 2% on the year before. It made up 10.8% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in the Thames Valley Police area
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. The Thames Valley Police area recorded 18,755 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 9.7% of all crime in the area.
Public order in the Thames Valley Police area
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. The Thames Valley Police area recorded 15,223 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 3% on the year before. It made up 7.8% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in the Thames Valley Police area
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. The Thames Valley Police area recorded 15,150 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.7 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 2% on the year before. It made up 7.8% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in the Thames Valley Police area
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. The Thames Valley Police area recorded 13,855 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 7.1% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in the Thames Valley Police area
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. The Thames Valley Police area recorded 10,922 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 5.6% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in the Thames Valley Police area
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. The Thames Valley Police area recorded 6,693 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 almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 3.5% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in the Thames Valley Police area
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. The Thames Valley Police area recorded 6,136 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 3.2% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in the Thames Valley Police area
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. The Thames Valley Police area recorded 4,279 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 18% on the year before. It made up 2.2% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in the Thames Valley Police area
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. The Thames Valley Police area recorded 2,935 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 1.5% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in the Thames Valley Police area
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. The Thames Valley Police area recorded 2,215 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 16% on the year before. It made up 1.1% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in the Thames Valley Police area
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. The Thames Valley Police area recorded 1,625 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 26% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in the Thames Valley Police area
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. The Thames Valley Police area recorded 1,175 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 17% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the police force areas closest to the Thames Valley Police area, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to the Thames Valley Police area.
| Police force area | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs the Thames Valley Police area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hertfordshire | 105,683 | 85.5 | +16% |
| Bedfordshire | 59,529 | 79.4 | +8% |
| Surrey | 87,826 | 70.3 | -4% |
| Metropolitan Police | 1,121,123 | 123.5 | +68% |
| City of London | 9,805 | 648.9 | +783% |
| Northamptonshire | 73,391 | 90.2 | +23% |
| Wiltshire | 51,651 | 67.3 | -8% |
| Hampshire | 165,842 | 80.4 | +9% |
13 areas within the Thames Valley Police area, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Reading had the highest rate (112.1 per 1,000) and Wokingham the lowest (44.8). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | District | 182,907 | 20,512 | 112.1 |
| Oxford | District | 166,034 | 17,736 | 106.8 |
| Slough | District | 167,359 | 17,242 | 103.0 |
| Milton Keynes | District | 305,884 | 30,731 | 100.5 |
| Cherwell | District | 170,426 | 12,246 | 71.9 |
| Windsor and Maidenhead | District | 158,943 | 10,434 | 65.6 |
| West Berkshire | District | 165,112 | 10,809 | 65.5 |
| Bracknell Forest | District | 130,806 | 8,552 | 65.4 |
| Buckinghamshire | District | 578,772 | 36,056 | 62.3 |
| Vale of White Horse | District | 149,347 | 7,923 | 53.1 |
| West Oxfordshire | District | 120,941 | 6,008 | 49.7 |
| South Oxfordshire | District | 156,470 | 7,327 | 46.8 |
| Wokingham | District | 187,200 | 8,392 | 44.8 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in the Thames Valley Police area 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 | 58,633 | 30.2% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 57,895 | 29.8% |
| Under investigation | 23,044 | 11.9% |
| Not recorded | 20,940 | 10.8% |
| Status update unavailable | 9,130 | 4.7% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 7,113 | 3.7% |
| Local resolution | 7,007 | 3.6% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 3,912 | 2.0% |
| Court result unavailable | 3,346 | 1.7% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 1,330 | 0.7% |
| Offender given a caution | 1,149 | 0.6% |
| Suspect charged as part of another case | 190 | 0.1% |
The Thames Valley Police area has an estimated population of 2,640,201. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in the Thames Valley Police area sits in decile 7.2, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | the Thames Valley Police area |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 19.7% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 63.2% |
| Aged 65 and over | 17.0% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 65.7% |
| Social rented homes | 14.4% |
| Private rented homes | 19.8% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 7.2 |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 0.6% |
Is the Thames Valley Police area a safe place to live?
The Thames Valley Police area recorded 73.5 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, lower than 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 the Thames Valley Police area?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 74,065 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (20,940).
Is crime in the Thames Valley Police area going up or down?
Recorded crime in the Thames Valley Police area was almost unchanged on the year before: 193,968 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 193,090 in the previous 12 months.
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 the Thames Valley Police area. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.