Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
RG22 · Hampshire
162
crimes in April 2026
Near national average
RG1 · Reading
837
crimes in April 2026
Above national average
Basingstoke has less crime — 162 vs 837 incidents in April 2026.
Reading recorded substantially more crime than Basingstoke in April 2026 — 837 incidents compared to 162, a 5.2x difference. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Basingstoke sees higher rates of Criminal damage & arson (19), while Reading has more Shoplifting (182). 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, Basingstoke recorded fewer crimes than Reading — 162 vs 837 incidents. That is 81% fewer crimes. Reading 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, Basingstoke recorded fewer total crimes (162 vs 837).