Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
CM14 · Essex
227
crimes in February 2026
Above national average
CM11 · Essex
22
crimes in February 2026
Below national average
Essex has less crime — 22 vs 227 incidents in February 2026.
Brentwood recorded substantially more crime than Essex in February 2026 — 227 incidents compared to 22, a 10.3x difference. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Brentwood sees higher rates of Shoplifting (48) and Criminal damage & arson (20), while Essex has more Drugs (3) and Public order (2). Brentwood sits above the national average for recorded crime while Essex 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 February 2026 Police data, Essex recorded fewer crimes than Brentwood — 22 vs 227 incidents. That is 90% fewer crimes. Essex is also below the national average for crime.
The main difference lies in crime type. In February 2026, Brentwood saw higher rates of Shoplifting and Criminal damage & arson while Essex had more Drugs and Public order. Overall, Essex recorded fewer total crimes (22 vs 227).