Total Crime Rate
21.7 per 1,000
All offences · May 2025 - Apr 2026Violent Crime Rate
17.4 per 1,000
May 2025 - Apr 2026Merthyr Vale area has the 25th lowest crime rate of 73 local areas in Caversham , and the 72nd lowest crime rate of 482 local areas in Reading .
Neighbouring streets tend to have noticeably higher crime levels than this postcode. Crime here is lower than the average for the surrounding output areas.
The overall crime rate in the area around Merthyr Vale (RG4 8QQ) in the last 12 months was 21.7 per 1,000 residents and was 70.3% lower than the Caversham average (73.2 per 1,000 residents). In the last 12 months, this area’s most reported crimes were Violence and sexual offences with 8 offences recorded. The least common crime was Burglary with 1 case , up 100.0% compared to 2025. The fastest-growing crime category was Burglary ( 100.0% YoY). The sharpest decline was Other theft ( -50.0% YoY).
Violent crimes totalled 8 (≈ 17.4 per 1,000 residents). Year-over-year these were rising ( 33.3% ). Over the last decade, overall crime has falling ( -87.1% comparing early vs recent averages) .
In the area around Merthyr Vale (RG4 8QQ), the highest concentration of overall crime is near Morlais, where police recorded 11 incidents. Violent and public-order offences occur most often near Highdown Avenue (4 offences). Both locations lie within roughly 0.3 miles of this postcode area.
View Crime In Reading| Month | Crime | Location* | Last Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2026 | Other theft | Morlais | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| Apr 2026 | Criminal damage and arson | Glenrhondda | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| Apr 2026 | Burglary | Soane End | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| Apr 2026 | Violence and sexual offences | Highdown Avenue | Under investigation |
StreetScan crime figures are based on official UK open data:
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. © Crown copyright and database right.