Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
CM1 · Essex
335
crimes in April 2026
Above national average
CM21 · Hertfordshire
55
crimes in April 2026
Below national average
Sawbridgeworth has less crime — 55 vs 335 incidents in April 2026.
Chelmsford recorded substantially more crime than Sawbridgeworth in April 2026 — 335 incidents compared to 55, a 6.1x difference. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Chelmsford sees higher rates of Shoplifting (42), while Sawbridgeworth has more Vehicle crime (8). Chelmsford sits above the national average for recorded crime while Sawbridgeworth 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, Sawbridgeworth recorded fewer crimes than Chelmsford — 55 vs 335 incidents. That is 84% fewer crimes. Sawbridgeworth is also below the national average for crime.
The main difference lies in crime type. In April 2026, Chelmsford saw higher rates of Shoplifting while Sawbridgeworth had more Vehicle crime. Overall, Sawbridgeworth recorded fewer total crimes (55 vs 335).