Crime in Woodley: statistics, rates and trends
1,140 crimes were recorded in Woodley in the 12 months to July 2026, 41.7 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 6% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Woodley at a glance
- Crime trends in Woodley
- Types of crime in Woodley
- Woodley compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Woodley
- Streets with the most crime in Woodley
- What happened after crimes were reported in Woodley
- Population and deprivation in Woodley
- Questions about crime in Woodley
- About this data
1,140 crimes were recorded in Woodley in the 12 months to July 2026, 41.7 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 6% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 485 reports (43% of the total).
Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Woodley has the 1,282nd highest crime rate.
| Measure | Woodley | Wokingham | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 1,140 | 8,392 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 41.7 | 44.8 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -6% | -5% | -1% |
| Population | 27,358 | 187,200 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Woodley was highest in the year to July 2023 (1,258 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2018 (1,013). Over the whole period it rose 13%, 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 | 1,140 | 41.7 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 1,215 | 44.4 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 1,228 | 44.9 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 1,258 | 46.0 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 1,240 | 45.3 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 1,136 | 41.5 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 1,120 | 40.9 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 1,066 | 39.0 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 1,013 | 37.0 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 154 |
| June 2026 | 133 |
| May 2026 | 99 |
| April 2026 | 98 |
| March 2026 | 99 |
| February 2026 | 65 |
| January 2026 | 70 |
| December 2025 | 59 |
| November 2025 | 79 |
| October 2025 | 80 |
| September 2025 | 105 |
| August 2025 | 99 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Woodley 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. The largest increases were in drugs (+64%) and vehicle crime (+55%).
The largest falls were in shoplifting (-49%) and bicycle theft (-38%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 485 | 17.7 | 0.52 | +0% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 133 | 4.9 | 0.32 | -6% |
| Shoplifting | 94 | 3.4 | 0.41 | -49% |
| Public order | 93 | 3.4 | 0.51 | -9% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 86 | 3.1 | 0.46 | +2% |
| Other theft | 78 | 2.9 | 0.45 | +18% |
| Vehicle crime | 45 | 1.6 | 0.33 | +55% |
| Drugs | 36 | 1.3 | 0.40 | +64% |
| Other crime | 34 | 1.2 | 0.59 | +48% |
| Burglary | 28 | 1.0 | 0.29 | +4% |
| Bicycle theft | 15 | 0.5 | 0.67 | -38% |
| Robbery | 6 | 0.2 | 0.16 | -54% |
| Possession of weapons | 4 | 0.1 | 0.15 | -43% |
| Theft from the person | 3 | 0.1 | 0.06 | -67% |
Violence and sexual offences in Woodley
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Woodley recorded 485 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (17.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 42.5% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Woodley
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Woodley recorded 133 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 6% on the year before. It made up 11.7% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Woodley
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Woodley recorded 94 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 49% on the year before. It made up 8.2% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Woodley
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Woodley recorded 93 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 9% on the year before. It made up 8.2% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Woodley
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Woodley recorded 86 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 2% on the year before. It made up 7.5% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Woodley
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Woodley recorded 78 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 18% on the year before. It made up 6.8% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Woodley
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Woodley recorded 45 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 55% on the year before. It made up 3.9% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Woodley
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Woodley recorded 36 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 64% on the year before. It made up 3.2% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Woodley
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Woodley recorded 34 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 48% on the year before. It made up 3.0% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Woodley
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Woodley recorded 28 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 4% on the year before. It made up 2.5% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Woodley
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Woodley recorded 15 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 38% on the year before. It made up 1.3% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Woodley
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Woodley recorded 6 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and down 54% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Woodley
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Woodley recorded 4 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 43% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Woodley
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Woodley recorded 3 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 67% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the towns closest to Woodley, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Woodley.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Woodley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winnersh | 546 | 47.5 | +14% |
| Twyford (Wokingham) | 435 | 48.7 | +17% |
| Caversham | 1,748 | 53.2 | +28% |
| Reading | 21,940 | 102.8 | +147% |
| Shinfield | 347 | 50.9 | +22% |
| Wokingham | 2,100 | 39.6 | -5% |
| Spencers Wood and Three Mile Cross | 428 | 39.1 | -6% |
| Henley-on-Thames | 749 | 60.2 | +45% |
3 areas within Woodley, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. South Lake had the highest rate (53.7 per 1,000) and Loddon the lowest (26.7). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Lake | Neighbourhood | 11,144 | 598 | 53.7 |
| Bulmershe & Coronation | Neighbourhood | 8,821 | 403 | 45.7 |
| Loddon | Neighbourhood | 9,617 | 257 | 26.7 |
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 Woodley over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 89 |
| On or near Supermarket | 66 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 66 |
| On or near Beaufield Close | 38 |
| On or near Rushbrook Road | 31 |
| On or near Drovers Way | 29 |
| On or near Shipley Close | 29 |
| On or near Martin Close | 26 |
| On or near Hearn Road | 25 |
| On or near Keats Close | 16 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Woodley 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 360 | 31.6% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 286 | 25.1% |
| Under investigation | 185 | 16.2% |
| Not recorded | 133 | 11.7% |
| Status update unavailable | 48 | 4.2% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 47 | 4.1% |
| Local resolution | 34 | 3.0% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 28 | 2.5% |
| Court result unavailable | 10 | 0.9% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 7 | 0.6% |
| Offender given penalty notice | 1 | 0.1% |
| Offender given a caution | 1 | 0.1% |
Woodley has an estimated population of 27,358. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Woodley sits in decile 8.8, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Woodley |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 20.8% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 59.8% |
| Aged 65 and over | 19.4% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 79.6% |
| Social rented homes | 8.3% |
| Private rented homes | 12.0% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 8.8 |
Is Woodley a safe place to live?
Woodley recorded 41.7 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 Woodley?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 485 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (133).
Is crime in Woodley going up or down?
Recorded crime in Woodley was down 6% on the year before: 1,140 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 1,215 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Woodley?
Woodley 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 Woodley. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.