Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
CM1 · Essex
267
crimes in February 2026
Above national average
CM5 · Essex
18
crimes in February 2026
Below national average
Ongar has less crime — 18 vs 267 incidents in February 2026.
Chelmsford recorded substantially more crime than Ongar in February 2026 — 267 incidents compared to 18, a 14.8x difference. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Chelmsford sees higher rates of Shoplifting (38) and Anti-social behaviour (26), while Ongar has more Vehicle crime (3) and Drugs (2). Chelmsford sits above the national average for recorded crime while Ongar 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 February 2026 Police data, Ongar recorded fewer crimes than Chelmsford — 18 vs 267 incidents. That is 93% fewer crimes. Ongar is also below the national average for crime.
The main difference lies in crime type. In February 2026, Chelmsford saw higher rates of Shoplifting and Anti-social behaviour while Ongar had more Vehicle crime and Drugs. Overall, Ongar recorded fewer total crimes (18 vs 267).