Reading is the UK’s safest city

READING is the UK’s safest city, with just 59 recorded crimes per 1,000 people.

The town came top of a new survey that looked at the city centre safety level for crime, pickpocketing, theft, violent crime and vandalism. Compiled by Get Licensed, the statistics show that the Ding came out well against other areas on the various matrixes.

The report states: “Crime rates in Reading are particularly low, despite its large population of over 318,000. Reading had among the lowest sexual offence cases out of all cities (2.09 reported per 1,000 people). The city also scored low for its offences related to possession of weapons (0.40 per 1,000), as well as drug offences (1.84 per 1,000).”

Next lowest was Swansea, its total recorded crimes at 60 per 1,000 people. It had low crime rates across all factors, with the lowest cases of robberies out of any other cities (0.26 per 1,000), and for possession of weapon offences (0.33 per 1,000). Swansea also had low levels of miscellaneous crimes against society (1.14 per 1,000).

London was the least safe city, with 773 recorded crimes per 1,000 people – more than 10 times higher than Reading, and nearly double the second-worst city in the list, Salford, which has 450 crimes per 1,000 people.

In a survey of the lowest level of high street related crimes, including shoplifting, Wokingham came up as the safest, with a score of 9.69 out of 10.

Reading came in fifth, with 8.02 out of 10.

Its population was recorded as 318,014 people, so includes greater Reading area, has a shoplifting score of 3.71 reported crimes per 1,000 people.

Theft score of 1.23 per 1,000 people, criminal damage and arson score of 5.19 per 1,000 people, and a non-residential burglary score of to join the Street Pastors on a regular Friday night patrol of Reading Town Centre, to see first-hand how £5,000 of funding will provide essential support to those in the town centre on Friday or Saturday nights.

“It was also great to visit First Stop and find out how £5,000 of funding will ensure continued support to the vulnerable, injured, intoxicated and, importantly, those in need of a listening ear.”

He continued: “I wish First Stop and Reading Street Pastors all the best with their future work, and I look forward to continuing to visit more organisations in 2023 whose work supports my Police and Criminal Justice Plan for Thames Valley.”

Sara Luker, Co-ordinator for First Stop, said: “It was really good to meet Matthew Barber, and for him to see how First Stop operates first hand working with other partners in the night time economy.”

Sally Leonard, co-ordinator for Reading Street Pastors, said: “It was a pleasure to welcome Matthew Barber to join the street pastor team.

“It was a busy night and Matthew was able to see how the street pastors work with the partners in the night.”

STAT ATTACK: Reading is the UK’s safest city according to new research

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