Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
RG21 · Hampshire
351
crimes in February 2026
Above national average
RG2 · Reading
142
crimes in February 2026
Near national average
Reading has less crime — 142 vs 351 incidents in February 2026.
Basingstoke recorded notably higher crime than Reading in February 2026 — 351 vs 142 incidents. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Basingstoke sees higher rates of Shoplifting (46), while Reading has more Other theft (13). 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 February 2026 Police data, Reading recorded fewer crimes than Basingstoke — 142 vs 351 incidents. That is 60% fewer crimes. Basingstoke is above the national average.
The main difference lies in crime type. In February 2026, Basingstoke saw higher rates of Shoplifting while Reading had more Other theft. Overall, Reading recorded fewer total crimes (142 vs 351).