Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
RG22 · Hampshire
162
crimes in April 2026
Near national average
RG2 · Reading
172
crimes in April 2026
Near national average
Basingstoke has less crime — 162 vs 172 incidents in April 2026.
Basingstoke and Reading recorded very similar overall crime levels in April 2026 — 162 and 172 incidents respectively. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Basingstoke sees higher rates of Anti-social behaviour (28) and Criminal damage & arson (19), 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, Basingstoke recorded fewer crimes than Reading — 162 vs 172 incidents. That is 6% fewer crimes.
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, Basingstoke recorded fewer total crimes (162 vs 172).