Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
RG24 · Hampshire
248
crimes in April 2026
Above national average
RG4 · Reading
52
crimes in April 2026
Below national average
Reading has less crime — 52 vs 248 incidents in April 2026.
Basingstoke recorded substantially more crime than Reading in April 2026 — 248 incidents compared to 52, a 4.8x difference. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Basingstoke sees higher rates of Public order (30), while Reading has more Other theft (7). 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 April 2026 Police data, Reading recorded fewer crimes than Basingstoke — 52 vs 248 incidents. That is 79% fewer crimes. Reading is also below the national average for crime.
The main difference lies in crime type. In April 2026, Basingstoke saw higher rates of Public order while Reading had more Other theft. Overall, Reading recorded fewer total crimes (52 vs 248).