Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
CM1 · Essex
335
crimes in April 2026
Above national average
CM20 · Essex
378
crimes in April 2026
Above national average
Chelmsford has less crime — 335 vs 378 incidents in April 2026.
Chelmsford and Harlow recorded very similar overall crime levels in April 2026 — 335 and 378 incidents respectively. Both areas share a near-identical crime profile, with Violence & sexual offences dominating in each. Both areas are above the national average for recorded crime; the full 24-month reports break down the trends and outcomes in detail.
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, Chelmsford recorded fewer crimes than Harlow — 335 vs 378 incidents. That is 11% fewer crimes. Harlow is above the national average.
Both areas share Violence & sexual offences as their top crime category. In April 2026, Chelmsford recorded 127 incidents of this type vs 123 in Harlow. Overall, Chelmsford had fewer total crimes (335 vs 378).