Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
RG20 · West Berkshire
123
crimes in February 2026
Near national average
RG1 · Reading
727
crimes in February 2026
Above national average
Newbury has less crime — 123 vs 727 incidents in February 2026.
Reading recorded substantially more crime than Newbury in February 2026 — 727 incidents compared to 123, a 5.9x difference. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Newbury sees higher rates of Criminal damage & arson (17) and Anti-social behaviour (14), while Reading has more Shoplifting (163) and Public order (64). 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 February 2026 Police data, Newbury recorded fewer crimes than Reading — 123 vs 727 incidents. That is 83% fewer crimes. Reading is above the national average.
The main difference lies in crime type. In February 2026, Newbury saw higher rates of Criminal damage & arson and Anti-social behaviour while Reading had more Shoplifting and Public order. Overall, Newbury recorded fewer total crimes (123 vs 727).