Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
CM14 · Essex
227
crimes in February 2026
Above national average
CM1 · Essex
267
crimes in February 2026
Above national average
Brentwood has less crime — 227 vs 267 incidents in February 2026.
Chelmsford saw somewhat more crime than Brentwood in February 2026 (267 vs 227 incidents). The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Brentwood sees higher rates of Criminal damage & arson (20), while Chelmsford has more Anti-social behaviour (26). 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 February 2026 Police data, Brentwood recorded fewer crimes than Chelmsford — 227 vs 267 incidents. That is 15% fewer crimes. Chelmsford is above the national average.
The main difference lies in crime type. In February 2026, Brentwood saw higher rates of Criminal damage & arson while Chelmsford had more Anti-social behaviour. Overall, Brentwood recorded fewer total crimes (227 vs 267).