Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
CM1 · Essex
335
crimes in April 2026
Above national average
CM17 · Essex
108
crimes in April 2026
Near national average
Harlow has less crime — 108 vs 335 incidents in April 2026.
Chelmsford recorded substantially more crime than Harlow in April 2026 — 335 incidents compared to 108, a 3.1x difference. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Chelmsford sees higher rates of Shoplifting (42), while Harlow has more Vehicle crime (15). 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, Harlow recorded fewer crimes than Chelmsford — 108 vs 335 incidents. That is 68% fewer crimes. Chelmsford is above the national average.
The main difference lies in crime type. In April 2026, Chelmsford saw higher rates of Shoplifting while Harlow had more Vehicle crime. Overall, Harlow recorded fewer total crimes (108 vs 335).