Crime in Reading: statistics, rates and trends

21,940 crimes were recorded in Reading in the 12 months to July 2026, 102.8 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 3% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 7,936 reports (36% of the total).

Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Reading has the 327th highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in Reading was highest in the year to July 2023 (23,137 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2019 (18,162). 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 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, bicycle theft.

The largest increases were in other crime (+23%) and robbery (+16%). The largest falls were in theft from the person (-34%) and vehicle crime (-17%).

Violence and sexual offences in Reading

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Reading recorded 7,936 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (37.2 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 9% on the year before. It made up 36.2% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Reading

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Reading recorded 3,225 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (15.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 7% on the year before. It made up 14.7% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Reading

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Reading recorded 2,198 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 4% on the year before. It made up 10.0% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Reading

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Reading recorded 1,738 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 12% on the year before. It made up 7.9% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Reading

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Reading recorded 1,710 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 10% on the year before. It made up 7.8% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Reading

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Reading recorded 1,330 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.2 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 6.1% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Reading

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Reading recorded 917 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.3 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 17% on the year before. It made up 4.2% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Reading

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Reading recorded 655 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 3.0% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Reading

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Reading recorded 593 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 11% on the year before. It made up 2.7% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Reading

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Reading recorded 464 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 11% on the year before. It made up 2.1% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Reading

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Reading recorded 407 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 23% on the year before. It made up 1.9% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Reading

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Reading recorded 355 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 16% on the year before. It made up 1.6% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Reading

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Reading recorded 261 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 34% on the year before. It made up 1.2% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Reading

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Reading recorded 151 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 almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.

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

19 areas within Reading, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Abbey had the highest rate (431.4 per 1,000) and Tilehurst & Purley the lowest (34.6). 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 over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in 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.

Reading has an estimated population of 213,520. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Reading sits in decile 6.3, 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. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

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