Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
RG14 · West Berkshire
207
crimes in February 2026
Above national average
RG4 · Reading
51
crimes in February 2026
Below national average
Reading has less crime — 51 vs 207 incidents in February 2026.
Newbury recorded substantially more crime than Reading in February 2026 — 207 incidents compared to 51, a 4.1x difference. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Newbury sees higher rates of Criminal damage & arson (21), while Reading has more Vehicle crime (9). Newbury 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 Newbury — 51 vs 207 incidents. That is 75% fewer crimes. Reading is also below the national average for crime.
The main difference lies in crime type. In February 2026, Newbury saw higher rates of Criminal damage & arson while Reading had more Vehicle crime. Overall, Reading recorded fewer total crimes (51 vs 207).