Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
CM1 · Essex
335
crimes in April 2026
Above national average
CB10 · Essex
26
crimes in April 2026
Below national average
Saffron Walden has less crime — 26 vs 335 incidents in April 2026.
Chelmsford recorded substantially more crime than Saffron Walden in April 2026 — 335 incidents compared to 26, a 12.9x difference. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Chelmsford sees higher rates of Violence & sexual offences (127) and Shoplifting (42), while Saffron Walden has more Other theft (6) and Public order (4). Chelmsford sits above the national average for recorded crime while Saffron Walden 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, Saffron Walden recorded fewer crimes than Chelmsford — 26 vs 335 incidents. That is 92% fewer crimes. Saffron Walden is also below the national average for crime.
The main difference lies in crime type. In April 2026, Chelmsford saw higher rates of Violence & sexual offences and Shoplifting while Saffron Walden had more Other theft and Public order. Overall, Saffron Walden recorded fewer total crimes (26 vs 335).