Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
RG24 · Hampshire
230
crimes in February 2026
Above national average
RG4 · Reading
51
crimes in February 2026
Below national average
Reading has less crime — 51 vs 230 incidents in February 2026.
Basingstoke recorded substantially more crime than Reading in February 2026 — 230 incidents compared to 51, a 4.5x difference. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Basingstoke sees higher rates of Shoplifting (24), while Reading has more Vehicle crime (9). Basingstoke sits above the national average for recorded crime while Reading is below — a significant gap for anyone weighing up the two.
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 — 51 vs 230 incidents. That is 78% fewer crimes. Reading is also below the national average for crime.
The main difference lies in crime type. In February 2026, Basingstoke saw higher rates of Shoplifting while Reading had more Vehicle crime. Overall, Reading recorded fewer total crimes (51 vs 230).