Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
RG21 · Hampshire
373
crimes in April 2026
Above national average
RG2 · Reading
172
crimes in April 2026
Near national average
Reading has less crime — 172 vs 373 incidents in April 2026.
Basingstoke recorded notably higher crime than Reading in April 2026 — 373 vs 172 incidents. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Basingstoke sees higher rates of Anti-social behaviour (49) and Criminal damage & arson (35), while Reading has more Shoplifting (23) and Other theft (19). Both areas sit near the national average, with modest differences in their overall safety profile.
Full reports cover 24 months of trends, ward breakdowns, outcome rates, and a detailed safety score — from £4.99.
Based on April 2026 Police data, Reading recorded fewer crimes than Basingstoke — 172 vs 373 incidents. That is 54% fewer crimes. Basingstoke is above the national average.
The main difference lies in crime type. In April 2026, Basingstoke saw higher rates of Anti-social behaviour and Criminal damage & arson while Reading had more Shoplifting and Other theft. Overall, Reading recorded fewer total crimes (172 vs 373).