Postcode area · Chelmsford
Crime in CM
How much crime is recorded in CM, what kind, and how it compares with the rest of the country.
- Council
- Chelmsford
- Region
- East of England
- Population
- 773,012 (2024)
CMPostcode area · Chelmsford
How safe is CM
Higher-harm crime (violence, robbery, burglary, vehicle crime and weapons offences) runs at 26.5 offences per 1,000 people a year in CM, below the 31.1 average across England and Wales. That puts it in band 5 of 10 against all council areas.
Higher-harm crime band
5/ 10
Lowest crimeHighest crime
Around the middle of council areas in England and Wales.
Higher-harm
26.5
Per 1,000 a year · England & Wales 31.1
All crime
53
Per 1,000 a year · England & Wales 67
What crime is recorded
Recorded offences per 1,000 people a year (counting both residents and people who work locally, or per 1,000 households for burglary).
CMNational
Violence and sexual offences20.523.6
Shoplifting6.98.4
Burglary6.99.1
Anti-social behaviour6.510.7
Other theft3.94.5
Criminal damage and arson3.74.7
Public order3.64.6
Vehicle crime3.33.5
Drugs2.42.4
Other crime1.21.5
Possession of weapons0.80.9
Bicycle theft0.81.0
Theft from the person0.82.1
Robbery0.81.4
Higher-harm crime over time
It has fallen 17% since 2022.
Higher-harm crimes per 1,000
0
10
20
30
40
2022202320242025
Source: data.police.uk street-level crime, resolved to neighbourhoods. Rates cover September 2025 to August 2026, the latest twelve months published.