Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
CM14 · Essex
173
crimes in April 2026
Near national average
CM1 · Essex
335
crimes in April 2026
Above national average
Brentwood has less crime — 173 vs 335 incidents in April 2026.
Chelmsford recorded notably higher crime than Brentwood in April 2026 — 335 vs 173 incidents. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Brentwood sees higher rates of Vehicle crime (19), while Chelmsford has more Anti-social behaviour (44). Both areas sit near the national average, with modest differences in their overall safety profile.
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 — 173 vs 335 incidents. That is 48% fewer crimes. Chelmsford is above the national average.
The main difference lies in crime type. In April 2026, Brentwood saw higher rates of Vehicle crime while Chelmsford had more Anti-social behaviour. Overall, Brentwood recorded fewer total crimes (173 vs 335).