How does Chelmsford compare with the rest of England and Wales?

Chelmsford ranks 160 of 310 Community Safety Partnerships by recorded-crime rate in the financial year 2024/25 (April 2024 to March 2025) (1 = highest rate). Its rate is below the England-and-Wales CSP average. On the Gera Local Crime Index it scores 93/100, where 100 is the lowest recorded-crime rate among all 310 included areas and 0 the highest.

Is there a lot of theft in Chelmsford?

Police recorded 39.0 theft offences per 1,000 residents in Chelmsford in the financial year 2024/25 (April 2024 to March 2025) (Home Office CSP statistics). Theft offences include shoplifting, vehicle crime, bicycle theft and other property theft.

What is the violent crime rate in Chelmsford?

Police recorded 52.4 violence-against-the-person offences per 1,000 residents in Chelmsford in the financial year 2024/25 (April 2024 to March 2025) (official Home Office CSP statistics). This offence group covers assault, harassment and public-order violence.

Where does this Chelmsford safety data come from?

These are official recorded-crime statistics from the Home Office 'Police recorded crime Community Safety Partnership open data' tables (financial year 2024/25, published 23 April 2026). The rate per 1,000 uses ONS mid-2023 population estimates for the matching local authority. Figures exclude fraud (recorded centrally). Both sources are © Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0, and presented as neutral context only.

Is Chelmsford safe to live in?

There is no official "safety" score for Chelmsford, but the recorded-crime rate gives useful context: Chelmsford (Essex) recorded 128.2 offences per 1,000 residents in the financial year 2024/25 (April 2024 to March 2025) — 14% below the England-and-Wales CSP average of 149.3, ranking 160 of 310. Gera Local Crime Index: 93/100. Source: Home Office CSP open data, published 23 April 2026.

These are neutral official statistics. Recorded-crime rates reflect reporting and recording practices and an area's daytime and visitor population as well as underlying offending — they are context, not a measure of how safe an area is, and say nothing about its residents. Use them alongside a visit, local knowledge and other factors when deciding where to live.

Recorded crime / 1,000: 128.2
Gera Local Crime Index: 93/100
Rank (1 = highest): 160/310
vs CSP average: -14%

Chelmsford falls within the Essex police force area. Its recorded-crime rate is below the England-and-Wales CSP average of 149.3 offences per 1,000 residents (23,860 recorded offences across a population of 186,060, financial year 2024/25 (April 2024 to March 2025)).

What kind of crime is recorded in Chelmsford?

Rate per 1,000 residents, financial year 2024/25 (April 2024 to March 2025).

Offence group	Rate / 1,000
Violence against the person	52.4
Theft offences	39.0
Criminal damage and arson	9.3
Public order offences	9.6
Drug offences	6.5
Robbery	1.1

Note: anti-social behaviour is an incident category, not a notifiable recorded offence, so it is not included. Fraud is recorded centrally rather than by area and is excluded from these totals.

See the full recorded-crime statistics for Chelmsford (Home Office Community Safety Partnership open data).

Compare with the whole force: Essex crime rate.

Thinking of moving to Chelmsford? See the average house price in Chelmsford (HM Land Registry).

Other areas in Essex

Frequently asked questions

Is Chelmsford a safe place to live?: There is no official safety score for any area, so the honest answer is to look at the recorded-crime context. Chelmsford recorded 128.2 offences per 1,000 residents in the financial year 2024/25 (April 2024 to March 2025), 14% below the England-and-Wales CSP average of 149.3. Recorded-crime rates reflect reporting and recording practices and an area's daytime and visitor population as well as underlying offending, so they are context rather than a verdict on how safe a place is.
What is the crime rate in Chelmsford?: Chelmsford (Essex) recorded 128.2 offences per 1,000 residents in the financial year 2024/25 (April 2024 to March 2025) — 23,860 recorded offences across a population of 186,060 — according to official Home Office police-recorded-crime statistics at Community Safety Partnership level.
How does Chelmsford compare with the rest of England and Wales?: Chelmsford ranks 160 of 310 Community Safety Partnerships by recorded-crime rate in the financial year 2024/25 (April 2024 to March 2025) (1 = highest rate). Its rate is below the England-and-Wales CSP average. On the Gera Local Crime Index it scores 93/100, where 100 is the lowest recorded-crime rate among all 310 included areas and 0 the highest.
Is there a lot of theft in Chelmsford?: Police recorded 39.0 theft offences per 1,000 residents in Chelmsford in the financial year 2024/25 (April 2024 to March 2025) (Home Office CSP statistics). Theft offences include shoplifting, vehicle crime, bicycle theft and other property theft.
What is the violent crime rate in Chelmsford?: Police recorded 52.4 violence-against-the-person offences per 1,000 residents in Chelmsford in the financial year 2024/25 (April 2024 to March 2025) (official Home Office CSP statistics). This offence group covers assault, harassment and public-order violence.
Where does this Chelmsford safety data come from?: These are official recorded-crime statistics from the Home Office 'Police recorded crime Community Safety Partnership open data' tables (financial year 2024/25, published 23 April 2026). The rate per 1,000 uses ONS mid-2023 population estimates for the matching local authority. Figures exclude fraud (recorded centrally). Both sources are © Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0, and presented as neutral context only.

More GeraRent area data

Free, official area data for anyone deciding where to live — each built to be cited.

Reference period: financial year 2024/25 (April 2024 to March 2025) (population: ONS mid-2023). Source: Home Office — Police recorded crime by Community Safety Partnership (CSP) + ONS mid-2023 local authority population estimates. Contains Home Office and Office for National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right 2026, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Recorded-crime rates are official statistics presented as neutral context only and must not be used to characterise or stigmatise any area or its residents. Licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.