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Crime and justice in Chelmsford

District

The south of the East of England. 190,570 people in 342 square kilometres.

13 layers about crime and justice for Chelmsford, each at the level its publisher released it, with its own date and source.

Open in map

Crime and ASB by neighbourhood

Police recorded crime and outcomes (data.police.uk) · August 2026

Under 323 or more

Chelmsford’s 113 neighbourhoods range from 0 to 164.

Is Chelmsford safe? What police records show

In the 12 months to August 2026, police recorded crimes and anti-social behaviour in Chelmsford at a rate of 83.5 per 1,000 people.

That compares with 80.2 per 1,000 people across East of England.

Across England as a whole, the recorded crime rate was 96.3 per 1,000 people.

In August 2026 alone, 1,540 cases of crime and anti-social behaviour were recorded in Chelmsford.

In the 12 months to August 2026, the most common types were violence and sexual offences (6,475), other crime (2,721) and anti-social behaviour (1,728).

A year earlier, the recorded crime rate in Chelmsford was 76.7 per 1,000 people.

Worked out by Open Index from police.uk crime records and ONS and NISRA population estimates.

Rates are per resident, so places that many people work in or visit, such as Westminster, the City of London and other city centres, have far higher rates than their residents alone would suggest.

Recorded crime rate

CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
83.5 per 1,000
Worked out by Open Index · Aug 2026

In the 12 months to August 2026, police recorded crimes and anti-social behaviour in Chelmsford at a rate of 83.5 per 1,000 people.

That compares with 80.2 per 1,000 people across East of England.

Worked out by Open Index from police.uk crime records and ONS and NISRA population estimates.

Against East of England
4% higher80.2 per 1,000
Recorded crime rate: Chelmsford among every council313 areas from 39.3 per 1,000 to 618.2 per 1,000. The middle area is 85.3 per 1,000. Chelmsford is 83.5 per 1,000.

Crime and anti-social behaviour

CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
1,540
Police.uk · Aug 2026
Crime and anti-social behaviour: Chelmsford among every council313 areas from 19 to 12,917. The middle area is 1,167. Chelmsford is 1,540.

Anti-social behaviour

CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
1,728
Police.uk · Aug 2026
Anti-social behaviour: Chelmsford among every council313 areas from 4 to 13,969. The middle area is 2,093. Chelmsford is 1,728.

Burglary

CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
508
Police.uk · Aug 2026
Burglary: Chelmsford among every council313 areas from 6 to 6,781. The middle area is 406. Chelmsford is 508.

Criminal damage and arson

CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
995
Police.uk · Aug 2026
Criminal damage and arson: Chelmsford among every council313 areas from 6 to 11,365. The middle area is 978. Chelmsford is 995.

Drug offences

CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
757
Police.uk · Aug 2026
Drug offences: Chelmsford among every council313 areas from 2 to 7,670. The middle area is 369. Chelmsford is 757.

Other crime

CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
2,721
Police.uk · Aug 2026
Other crime: Chelmsford among every council313 areas from 22 to 25,019. The middle area is 2,187. Chelmsford is 2,721.

Robbery

CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
141
Police.uk · Aug 2026
Robbery: Chelmsford among every council313 areas from 0 to 3,601. The middle area is 101. Chelmsford is 141.

Shoplifting

CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
1,690
Police.uk · Aug 2026
Shoplifting: Chelmsford among every council313 areas from 2 to 12,621. The middle area is 1,038. Chelmsford is 1,690.

Theft from the person

CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
114
Police.uk · Aug 2026
Theft from the person: Chelmsford among every council313 areas from 0 to 17,267. The middle area is 54. Chelmsford is 114.

Vehicle crime

CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
779
Police.uk · Aug 2026
Vehicle crime: Chelmsford among every council313 areas from 2 to 12,181. The middle area is 513. Chelmsford is 779.

Violence and sexual offences

CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
6,475
Police.uk · Aug 2026
Violence and sexual offences: Chelmsford among every council313 areas from 49 to 62,950. The middle area is 4,756. Chelmsford is 6,475.

Street-level crime

Map pointEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only

Published as points, so there is no single figure for Chelmsford. The map shows each one.