Crime in Chelmsford Rural West: statistics, rates and trends
181 crimes were recorded in Chelmsford Rural West in the 12 months to July 2026, 53.2 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 17% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Chelmsford Rural West at a glance
- Crime trends in Chelmsford Rural West
- Types of crime in Chelmsford Rural West
- Chelmsford Rural West compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Chelmsford Rural West
- What happened after crimes were reported in Chelmsford Rural West
- Population and deprivation in Chelmsford Rural West
- Questions about crime in Chelmsford Rural West
- About this data
181 crimes were recorded in Chelmsford Rural West in the 12 months to July 2026, 53.2 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 17% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 75 reports (41% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Chelmsford Rural West has the 2,888th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Chelmsford Rural West | Chelmsford | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 181 | 15,643 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 53.2 | 82.9 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -17% | +7% | -1% |
| Population | 3,400 | 188,803 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Chelmsford Rural West was highest in the year to July 2020 (250 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2018 (154). Over the whole period it rose 18%, against a fall of 4% across England and Wales. Rates use today's population for every year, so they show the direction of change rather than exact historic rates.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to July 2026 | 181 | 53.2 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 218 | 64.1 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 203 | 59.7 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 207 | 60.9 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 222 | 65.3 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 205 | 60.3 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 250 | 73.5 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 206 | 60.6 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 154 | 45.3 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 20 |
| June 2026 | 12 |
| May 2026 | 18 |
| April 2026 | 18 |
| March 2026 | 14 |
| February 2026 | 11 |
| January 2026 | 12 |
| December 2025 | 16 |
| November 2025 | 19 |
| October 2025 | 14 |
| September 2025 | 13 |
| August 2025 | 14 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Chelmsford Rural West over the 12 months to July 2026. The index compares the local rate with England and Wales: 1.00 is the national rate, 2.00 is double it. Rates were well above the national level for vehicle crime.
The largest falls were in criminal damage and arson (-33%) and violence and sexual offences (-23%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 75 | 22.1 | 0.64 | -23% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 22 | 6.5 | 0.42 | -4% |
| Vehicle crime | 22 | 6.5 | 1.31 | +83% |
| Other theft | 18 | 5.3 | 0.83 | -5% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 16 | 4.7 | 0.69 | -33% |
| Burglary | 8 | 2.4 | 0.67 | -47% |
| Other crime | 7 | 2.1 | 0.97 | -22% |
| Drugs | 5 | 1.5 | 0.45 | +67% |
| Public order | 4 | 1.2 | 0.18 | -67% |
| Possession of weapons | 2 | 0.6 | 0.61 | +100% |
| Bicycle theft | 1 | 0.3 | 0.36 | n/a |
| Shoplifting | 1 | 0.3 | 0.04 | +0% |
Violence and sexual offences in Chelmsford Rural West
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Chelmsford Rural West recorded 75 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (22.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 23% on the year before. It made up 41.4% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Chelmsford Rural West
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Chelmsford Rural West recorded 22 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 4% on the year before. It made up 12.2% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Chelmsford Rural West
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Chelmsford Rural West recorded 22 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 83% on the year before. It made up 12.2% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Chelmsford Rural West
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Chelmsford Rural West recorded 18 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 9.9% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Chelmsford Rural West
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Chelmsford Rural West recorded 16 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 33% on the year before. It made up 8.8% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Chelmsford Rural West
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Chelmsford Rural West recorded 8 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 47% on the year before. It made up 4.4% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Chelmsford Rural West
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Chelmsford Rural West recorded 7 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.1 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 22% on the year before. It made up 3.9% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Chelmsford Rural West
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Chelmsford Rural West recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 67% on the year before. It made up 2.8% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Chelmsford Rural West
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Chelmsford Rural West recorded 4 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 67% on the year before. It made up 2.2% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Chelmsford Rural West
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Chelmsford Rural West recorded 2 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 100% on the year before. It made up 1.1% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Chelmsford Rural West
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Chelmsford Rural West recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and with no comparable figure for the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Chelmsford Rural West
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Chelmsford Rural West recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Chelmsford Rural West, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Chelmsford Rural West.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Chelmsford Rural West |
|---|---|---|---|
| Writtle | 318 | 59.4 | +12% |
| St Andrews | 790 | 83.6 | +57% |
| Patching Hall | 669 | 72.4 | +36% |
| Waterhouse Farm | 660 | 96.3 | +81% |
| Marconi | 1,245 | 133.4 | +151% |
| Broomfield and The Walthams | 1,044 | 82.3 | +55% |
| Moulsham and Central | 3,977 | 255.8 | +380% |
| The Lawns | 197 | 34.9 | -34% |
Police.uk records each crime at an approximate location, usually the centre of a nearby street or a landmark, to protect victims' privacy. These are the locations with the most reports in Chelmsford Rural West over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Hawthorn Crescent | 26 |
| On or near Highwood Road | 17 |
| On or near Mashbury Road | 15 |
| On or near Sports/Recreation Area | 9 |
| On or near Boyton Hall Lane | 8 |
| On or near Woolmers Mead | 7 |
| On or near Farmbridge End Road | 6 |
| On or near Salt'S Green | 5 |
| On or near Clover Drive | 5 |
| On or near Pump Lane | 5 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Chelmsford Rural West over the 12 months to July 2026. Many cases are still open when the data is published, and anti-social behaviour has no outcome recorded, so these shares change as investigations finish.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 62 | 34.3% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 57 | 31.5% |
| Not recorded | 22 | 12.2% |
| Under investigation | 14 | 7.7% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 8 | 4.4% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 7 | 3.9% |
| Local resolution | 4 | 2.2% |
| Court result unavailable | 3 | 1.7% |
| Status update unavailable | 2 | 1.1% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.6% |
| Offender given a caution | 1 | 0.6% |
Chelmsford Rural West has an estimated population of 3,400. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Chelmsford Rural West sits in decile 5.6, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Chelmsford Rural West |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 19.3% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 59.0% |
| Aged 65 and over | 21.7% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 77.7% |
| Social rented homes | 9.7% |
| Private rented homes | 12.6% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.6 |
Is Chelmsford Rural West a safe place to live?
Chelmsford Rural West recorded 53.2 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4. Crime is concentrated in a small number of places within most areas, often busy centres and transport hubs, so the rate for a single street can differ a lot from the area as a whole.
What is the most common crime in Chelmsford Rural West?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 75 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (22).
Is crime in Chelmsford Rural West going up or down?
Recorded crime in Chelmsford Rural West was down 17% on the year before: 181 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 218 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Chelmsford Rural West?
Chelmsford Rural West is policed by Essex. Non-emergency crimes can be reported online to the force or by calling 101; in an emergency call 999.
How are these crime rates calculated?
Each rate is the number of crimes recorded by the police in the 12 months to July 2026, divided by the resident population and multiplied by 1,000. Crime data is from data.police.uk and population estimates are from the Office for National Statistics.
Figures are police-recorded crime published on data.police.uk, covering August 2017 to July 2026. Each crime is counted in the small area (LSOA) where it was recorded and added up to Chelmsford Rural West. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.