Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
CM23 · Hertfordshire
218
crimes in April 2026
Above national average
CM5 · Essex
23
crimes in April 2026
Below national average
Ongar has less crime — 23 vs 218 incidents in April 2026.
Bishops Stortford recorded substantially more crime than Ongar in April 2026 — 218 incidents compared to 23, a 9.5x difference. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Bishops Stortford sees higher rates of Shoplifting (35), while Ongar has more Criminal damage & arson (3). Bishops Stortford sits above the national average for recorded crime while Ongar 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, Ongar recorded fewer crimes than Bishops Stortford — 23 vs 218 incidents. That is 89% fewer crimes. Ongar 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 Ongar had more Criminal damage & arson. Overall, Ongar recorded fewer total crimes (23 vs 218).