Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
CM13 · Essex
24
crimes in April 2026
Below national average
CM1 · Essex
335
crimes in April 2026
Above national average
Brentwood has less crime — 24 vs 335 incidents in April 2026.
Chelmsford recorded substantially more crime than Brentwood in April 2026 — 335 incidents compared to 24, a 14.0x difference. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Brentwood sees higher rates of Drugs (3) and Vehicle crime (3), while Chelmsford has more Anti-social behaviour (44) and Shoplifting (42). Brentwood is below the national average while Chelmsford is above, making Brentwood 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, Brentwood recorded fewer crimes than Chelmsford — 24 vs 335 incidents. That is 93% fewer crimes. Brentwood is also below the national average for crime.
The main difference lies in crime type. In April 2026, Brentwood saw higher rates of Drugs and Vehicle crime while Chelmsford had more Anti-social behaviour and Shoplifting. Overall, Brentwood recorded fewer total crimes (24 vs 335).