Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
CM1 · Essex
335
crimes in April 2026
Above national average
CM11 · Essex
11
crimes in April 2026
Below national average
Essex has less crime — 11 vs 335 incidents in April 2026.
Chelmsford recorded substantially more crime than Essex in April 2026 — 335 incidents compared to 11, a 30.5x difference. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Chelmsford sees higher rates of Anti-social behaviour (44) and Shoplifting (42), while Essex has more Vehicle crime (4) and Drugs (1). Chelmsford 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 April 2026 Police data, Essex recorded fewer crimes than Chelmsford — 11 vs 335 incidents. That is 97% fewer crimes. Essex is also below the national average for crime.
The main difference lies in crime type. In April 2026, Chelmsford saw higher rates of Anti-social behaviour and Shoplifting while Essex had more Vehicle crime and Drugs. Overall, Essex recorded fewer total crimes (11 vs 335).