Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
CM7 · Essex
37
crimes in February 2026
Below national average
CM1 · Essex
267
crimes in February 2026
Above national average
Braintree has less crime — 37 vs 267 incidents in February 2026.
Chelmsford recorded substantially more crime than Braintree in February 2026 — 267 incidents compared to 37, a 7.2x difference. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Braintree sees higher rates of Criminal damage & arson (4), while Chelmsford has more Anti-social behaviour (26). Braintree is below the national average while Chelmsford is above, making Braintree the safer choice on this measure.
Full reports cover 24 months of trends, ward breakdowns, outcome rates, and a detailed safety score — from £4.99.
Based on February 2026 Police data, Braintree recorded fewer crimes than Chelmsford — 37 vs 267 incidents. That is 86% fewer crimes. Braintree is also below the national average for crime.
The main difference lies in crime type. In February 2026, Braintree saw higher rates of Criminal damage & arson while Chelmsford had more Anti-social behaviour. Overall, Braintree recorded fewer total crimes (37 vs 267).