Crime in Chelmsford
Police.uk reported crime in Chelmsford, Essex. Category breakdown, 24-month trend, and postcode-district hot and cold spots within the town.
Crime in Chelmsford by category
Last 12 months, all 14 Police.uk categories. Bars are scaled to the largest category in Chelmsford.
| Category | Incidents | % of mix | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 2,887 | 35.7% |
|
| Other theft | 717 | 8.9% |
|
| Anti-social behaviour | 710 | 8.8% |
|
| Criminal damage and arson | 685 | 8.5% |
|
| Public order | 643 | 8.0% |
|
| Drugs | 496 | 6.1% |
|
| Vehicle crime | 496 | 6.1% |
|
| Shoplifting | 451 | 5.6% |
|
| Burglary | 316 | 3.9% |
|
| Other crime | 269 | 3.3% |
|
| Bicycle theft | 115 | 1.4% |
|
| Theft from the person | 112 | 1.4% |
|
| Possession of weapons | 101 | 1.3% |
|
| Robbery | 95 | 1.2% |
|
Where Chelmsford's crime mix differs from the UK
Top 5 categories where Chelmsford's 12-month share differs most from the national average. Percentage-point delta. Positive means more concentrated in Chelmsford than the UK as a whole.
| Category | Chelmsford | UK | Delta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anti-social behaviour | 8.8% | 16.3% | -7.5 pp |
| Violence and sexual offences | 35.7% | 31.7% | +4.0 pp |
| Drugs | 6.1% | 4.0% | +2.1 pp |
| Shoplifting | 5.6% | 3.8% | +1.8 pp |
| Other theft | 8.9% | 7.8% | +1.1 pp |
Monthly incident volume
Nov 2023 to Oct 2025. Police.uk publishes ~2 months in arrears.
| Month | Value |
|---|---|
| 2023-11 | 753 |
| 2023-12 | 745 |
| 2024-01 | 757 |
| 2024-02 | 737 |
| 2024-03 | 744 |
| 2024-04 | 721 |
| 2024-05 | 661 |
| 2024-06 | 695 |
| 2024-07 | 777 |
| 2024-08 | 753 |
| 2024-09 | 674 |
| 2024-10 | 717 |
| 2024-11 | 713 |
| 2024-12 | 666 |
| 2025-01 | 649 |
| 2025-02 | 594 |
| 2025-03 | 689 |
| 2025-04 | 633 |
| 2025-05 | 733 |
| 2025-06 | 681 |
| 2025-07 | 711 |
| 2025-08 | 673 |
| 2025-09 | 661 |
| 2025-10 | 690 |
Hottest postcode districts in Chelmsford
- CM1 8,093 incidents (12m)
- CM2 8,093 incidents (12m)
- CM3 8,093 incidents (12m)
- 0 incidents (12m)
Quietest postcode districts in Chelmsford
- CM1 8,093 incidents (12m)
- CM2 8,093 incidents (12m)
- CM3 8,093 incidents (12m)
Postcode-district counts use the bounding box of every address in the district, so they're approximate. Treat them as a relative ranking within Chelmsford rather than an absolute count.
What Chelmsford crime data isn't
- Reported, not actual. Many crimes go unreported. The data reflects what reached Police.uk, not the underlying incidence rate.
- Locations are obfuscated. Each incident is mapped to a snap point within roughly 250 metres of the true location to protect victim privacy.
- Force-by-force inconsistency. Different police forces classify and record borderline incidents differently. Comparing two areas covered by different forces needs care.
- Patrol-density bias. Areas with heavier patrol presence record more incidents, partly because more crime is observed and reported.
FAQ
Get the full report for any Chelmsford address
Crime within 500m of the specific property, plus sale history, flood risk, planning, EPC, schools and broadband. £29.
Search an address