Cold Ash Crime Rate February 2026 | Monthly Statistics

Cold Ash’s February 2026 crime rate of 0.4 per 1,000 residents highlights a stark contrast to the UK average of 6.4 per 1,000, with the area recording 93.8% fewer crimes than the national benchmark. This marked deficit underscores the area’s relative safety, particularly in the context of a built-up region within West Berkshire, where low population density and limited urban infrastructure may contribute to reduced opportunities for crime. The breakdown of incidents reveals that violence and sexual offences dominated the month’s total, accounting for 60% of all reported crimes, followed by other theft and other crime at 20% each. While these figures are lower than their respective UK averages, the dominance of violent crime in the local profile suggests a unique dynamic compared to other regions. Seasonal factors may also play a role, as February—a winter month with low outdoor activity and a pre-spring lull—could influence patterns of criminal behaviour. The absence of significant property crime further supports the notion that Cold Ash’s built-up environment, characterized by a mix of residential and rural land uses, may limit opportunities for theft. This combination of geographic and seasonal influences likely contributes to the area’s consistently low crime rates, even as specific categories like violence show temporary fluctuations. The overall trend, however, remains firmly in line with Cold Ash’s historical profile of minimal criminal activity compared to the UK average.

The most significant shift in February 2026 was the 200% increase in violence and sexual offences, rising from 1 to 3 incidents. While this jump is notable, the category still remains 87% below the UK average of 2.3 per 1,000. This suggests that while local factors may have temporarily amplified violent crime, the overall trend in Cold Ash continues to diverge from national patterns. Other theft and other crime each accounted for 20% of total incidents, both significantly below their respective UK averages (76% and 33% deficits). The property crime category, at just 1 incident, was the lowest contributor to the month’s total, reflecting a broader trend of property-related offences being rare in this area. For residents, the daily crime count of 0 per 28 days offers a concrete reassurance: the likelihood of encountering crime in Cold Ash is exceptionally low. This aligns with the area’s broader profile, where violent crime, despite its increase, remains far below national benchmarks. The contrast between the sharp rise in one category and the sustained low rates in others illustrates the nuanced nature of local crime dynamics.

Cold Ash’s February 2026 crime rate of 0.4 per 1,000 residents marks a 44.3% decrease from the previous month’s 0.8 per 1,000, reflecting a sustained decline in criminal activity. This reduction is particularly striking when considering the area’s small population of 11,400, where the monthly exposure figure indicates that one reported crime occurred for roughly every 2,280 residents. Over the course of the month, daily crime counts averaged approximately zero, a figure that underscores the rarity of incidents in this built-up area. While such low numbers may seem abstract, they translate to a practical reality for residents: the likelihood of encountering crime in Cold Ash remains exceptionally low compared to the UK average. This contrasts with the previous month, where the rate was double the current level, suggesting that ongoing community or environmental factors may be contributing to this downward trend. The population-scaled perspective further highlights the disparity: for every 1,000 residents in Cold Ash, just 0.4 crimes were reported, compared to 6.4 per 1,000 nationwide. This 93.8% deficit from the UK average indicates that Cold Ash’s crime profile is markedly safer than the national context, a consistency that may be influenced by local demographics or geographic isolation from high-crime urban centres.