Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
CM1 · Essex
335
crimes in April 2026
Above national average
CM19 · Essex
164
crimes in April 2026
Near national average
Harlow has less crime — 164 vs 335 incidents in April 2026.
Chelmsford recorded notably higher crime than Harlow in April 2026 — 335 vs 164 incidents. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Chelmsford sees higher rates of Shoplifting (42), while Harlow has more Criminal damage & arson (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 — 164 vs 335 incidents. That is 51% 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 Criminal damage & arson. Overall, Harlow recorded fewer total crimes (164 vs 335).