Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
CM7 · Essex
68
crimes in April 2026
Below national average
CM1 · Essex
335
crimes in April 2026
Above national average
Braintree has less crime — 68 vs 335 incidents in April 2026.
Chelmsford recorded substantially more crime than Braintree in April 2026 — 335 incidents compared to 68, a 4.9x difference. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Braintree sees higher rates of Other theft (5), while Chelmsford has more Shoplifting (42). 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 April 2026 Police data, Braintree recorded fewer crimes than Chelmsford — 68 vs 335 incidents. That is 80% fewer crimes. Braintree is also below the national average for crime.
The main difference lies in crime type. In April 2026, Braintree saw higher rates of Other theft while Chelmsford had more Shoplifting. Overall, Braintree recorded fewer total crimes (68 vs 335).