Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
RG21 · Hampshire
373
crimes in April 2026
Above national average
RG31 · Reading
114
crimes in April 2026
Near national average
Reading has less crime — 114 vs 373 incidents in April 2026.
Basingstoke recorded substantially more crime than Reading in April 2026 — 373 incidents compared to 114, a 3.3x difference. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Basingstoke sees higher rates of Criminal damage & arson (35), while Reading has more Shoplifting (34). 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 — 114 vs 373 incidents. That is 69% fewer crimes. Basingstoke is above the national average.
The main difference lies in crime type. In April 2026, Basingstoke saw higher rates of Criminal damage & arson while Reading had more Shoplifting. Overall, Reading recorded fewer total crimes (114 vs 373).