Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
CM1 · Essex
267
crimes in February 2026
Above national average
CM11 · Essex
22
crimes in February 2026
Below national average
Essex has less crime — 22 vs 267 incidents in February 2026.
Chelmsford recorded substantially more crime than Essex in February 2026 — 267 incidents compared to 22, a 12.1x difference. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Chelmsford sees higher rates of Shoplifting (38) and Anti-social behaviour (26), while Essex has more Drugs (3) and Public order (2). Chelmsford sits above the national average for recorded crime while Essex 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, Essex recorded fewer crimes than Chelmsford — 22 vs 267 incidents. That is 92% fewer crimes. Essex 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 Essex had more Drugs and Public order. Overall, Essex recorded fewer total crimes (22 vs 267).