Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
CM23 · Hertfordshire
218
crimes in April 2026
Above national average
CM7 · Essex
68
crimes in April 2026
Below national average
Braintree has less crime — 68 vs 218 incidents in April 2026.
Bishops Stortford recorded substantially more crime than Braintree in April 2026 — 218 incidents compared to 68, a 3.2x difference. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Bishops Stortford sees higher rates of Shoplifting (35), while Braintree has more Other theft (5). Bishops Stortford sits above the national average for recorded crime while Braintree is below — a significant gap for anyone weighing up the two.
Full reports cover 24 months of trends, ward breakdowns, outcome rates, and a detailed safety score — from £4.99.
Based on April 2026 Police data, Braintree recorded fewer crimes than Bishops Stortford — 68 vs 218 incidents. That is 69% fewer crimes. Braintree is also below the national average for crime.
The main difference lies in crime type. In April 2026, Bishops Stortford saw higher rates of Shoplifting while Braintree had more Other theft. Overall, Braintree recorded fewer total crimes (68 vs 218).