A report providing an overview of the work that Reading’s Community Safety Partnership (CSP) has carried out between July 2025 - May 2026 to meet the priorities outlined within the Community Safety and Serious Violence Strategy 2023-2026.

The Committee considered a report that provided an overview of the work that Reading’s Community Safety Partnership (CSP) had carried out over the last year to meet the priorities outlined within the Community Safety and Serious Violence Strategy 2023-2026. The report covered the period from July 2025 - May 2026. The report also informed the Committee that a new Community Safety and Serious Violence Strategy for 2026-2029 had been commissioned alongside an associated Strategic Needs Assessment.

The report set out key highlights from this year’s activity including:

• Over the previous five years the overall crime rate had spiked in 2022 and then fallen steadily between 2022 and 2024. Crime rates were down 1.58% in 2023, and 6.05% in 2024. There had been a small increase in 2025 of 0.37%.
• Perceptions of how safe residents felt in Reading had remained the same in 2025, in comparison to the previous year. In the 2025 Community Safety Survey 50.5% responded that they felt safe in Reading; compared to 51% in 2024.
• A new Community Safety and Serious Violence Strategy for 2026-2029 had been commissioned and an associated Strategic Needs Assessment had started.
• A new Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) had been brought into force on 24 March 2026, providing an additional partnership tool to address Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB).
• The Young Voices network had continued to expand, allowing the voice of children and young people to contribute to decision-making and shaping delivery. The Young Voices Survey was now embedded as an annual survey alongside the main Community Safety Survey.
• Partners had implemented improved approaches to community cohesion and resilience including a process involving community leaders for reassuring communities during high-profile events, such as terrorist attacks.
• Independently recommended improvements had been made to the Domestic Abuse Partnership Boad, including ways to embed the voice of the child and lived experience into decision-making.
• New processes had been created to enable better partnership working on water safety, including the creation of regular partnership patrols to address crime and ASB on Reading’s waterways.
• Key community events linked to crime reduction, including the CSP’s annual Domestic Abuse Conference and annual Young Voices Safety Summit, were held regularly.

The report explained that the data in the report had been sourced from Berkshire Observatory, which collated data from national and validated data sources including the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and Police data and stated that it was important to note that offence data shifted regularly as old offences came to light or longstanding investigations were completed. The Committee noted that it would be helpful to have data that covered a longer period, to give a comprehensive view of crime figures.

Resolved -

(1)      That the annual Community Safety Partnership report outlining the activities and impact over the last year be endorsed for publication;

(2)      That the commissioning of a new Community Safety and Serious Violence Strategy for 2026-2029 alongside an associated Strategic Needs Assessment be noted.