Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
CM14 · Essex
227
crimes in February 2026
Above national average
CM17 · Essex
68
crimes in February 2026
Below national average
Harlow has less crime — 68 vs 227 incidents in February 2026.
Brentwood recorded substantially more crime than Harlow in February 2026 — 227 incidents compared to 68, a 3.3x difference. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Brentwood sees higher rates of Shoplifting (48) and Criminal damage & arson (20), while Harlow has more Other theft (6) and Vehicle crime (6). Brentwood sits above the national average for recorded crime while Harlow 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, Harlow recorded fewer crimes than Brentwood — 68 vs 227 incidents. That is 70% fewer crimes. Harlow 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 Harlow had more Other theft and Vehicle crime. Overall, Harlow recorded fewer total crimes (68 vs 227).