Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
CM1 · Essex
335
crimes in April 2026
Above national average
CB3 · Cambridgeshire
97
crimes in April 2026
Below national average
Hardwick has less crime — 97 vs 335 incidents in April 2026.
Chelmsford recorded substantially more crime than Hardwick in April 2026 — 335 incidents compared to 97, a 3.5x difference. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Chelmsford sees higher rates of Shoplifting (42), while Hardwick has more Other theft (15). Chelmsford sits above the national average for recorded crime while Hardwick 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, Hardwick recorded fewer crimes than Chelmsford — 97 vs 335 incidents. That is 71% fewer crimes. Hardwick is also below the national average for crime.
The main difference lies in crime type. In April 2026, Chelmsford saw higher rates of Shoplifting while Hardwick had more Other theft. Overall, Hardwick recorded fewer total crimes (97 vs 335).