Crime in Writtle, Chelmsford: statistics, rates and trends
318 crimes were recorded in Writtle, Chelmsford in the 12 months to July 2026, 59.4 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 5% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Writtle, Chelmsford at a glance
- Crime trends in Writtle, Chelmsford
- Types of crime in Writtle, Chelmsford
- Writtle, Chelmsford compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Writtle, Chelmsford
- What happened after crimes were reported in Writtle, Chelmsford
- Population and deprivation in Writtle, Chelmsford
- Questions about crime in Writtle, Chelmsford
- About this data
318 crimes were recorded in Writtle, Chelmsford in the 12 months to July 2026, 59.4 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 5% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 102 reports (32% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Writtle, Chelmsford has the 2,622nd highest crime rate.
| Measure | Writtle, Chelmsford | Chelmsford | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 318 | 15,643 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 59.4 | 82.9 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +5% | +7% | -1% |
| Population | 5,355 | 188,803 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Writtle, Chelmsford was highest in the year to July 2019 (520 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2025 (304). Over the whole period it fell 23%, 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 | 318 | 59.4 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 304 | 56.8 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 321 | 59.9 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 384 | 71.7 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 429 | 80.1 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 438 | 81.8 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 396 | 73.9 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 520 | 97.1 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 413 | 77.1 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 36 |
| June 2026 | 27 |
| May 2026 | 19 |
| April 2026 | 25 |
| March 2026 | 25 |
| February 2026 | 28 |
| January 2026 | 26 |
| December 2025 | 27 |
| November 2025 | 22 |
| October 2025 | 27 |
| September 2025 | 31 |
| August 2025 | 25 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Writtle, Chelmsford 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. The largest increases were in other theft (+27%) and violence and sexual offences (+11%). The largest falls were in shoplifting (-32%) and burglary (-23%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 102 | 19.0 | 0.56 | +11% |
| Shoplifting | 41 | 7.7 | 0.92 | -32% |
| Other theft | 38 | 7.1 | 1.11 | +27% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 31 | 5.8 | 0.38 | +107% |
| Vehicle crime | 26 | 4.9 | 0.99 | +37% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 22 | 4.1 | 0.61 | +29% |
| Burglary | 17 | 3.2 | 0.90 | -23% |
| Drugs | 17 | 3.2 | 0.97 | -15% |
| Public order | 14 | 2.6 | 0.39 | -18% |
| Other crime | 7 | 1.3 | 0.62 | +17% |
| Robbery | 2 | 0.4 | 0.28 | +100% |
| Theft from the person | 1 | 0.2 | 0.11 | +0% |
Violence and sexual offences in Writtle, Chelmsford
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Writtle, Chelmsford recorded 102 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (19.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 11% on the year before. It made up 32.1% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Writtle, Chelmsford
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Writtle, Chelmsford recorded 41 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.7 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 32% on the year before. It made up 12.9% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Writtle, Chelmsford
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Writtle, Chelmsford recorded 38 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.1 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 27% on the year before. It made up 11.9% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Writtle, Chelmsford
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Writtle, Chelmsford recorded 31 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 107% on the year before. It made up 9.7% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Writtle, Chelmsford
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Writtle, Chelmsford recorded 26 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 37% on the year before. It made up 8.2% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Writtle, Chelmsford
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Writtle, Chelmsford recorded 22 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 29% on the year before. It made up 6.9% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Writtle, Chelmsford
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Writtle, Chelmsford recorded 17 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.2 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 23% on the year before. It made up 5.3% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Writtle, Chelmsford
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Writtle, Chelmsford recorded 17 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.2 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 15% on the year before. It made up 5.3% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Writtle, Chelmsford
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Writtle, Chelmsford recorded 14 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 18% on the year before. It made up 4.4% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Writtle, Chelmsford
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Writtle, Chelmsford recorded 7 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 17% on the year before. It made up 2.2% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Writtle, Chelmsford
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Writtle, Chelmsford recorded 2 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 100% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Writtle, Chelmsford
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Writtle, Chelmsford recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Writtle, Chelmsford, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Writtle, Chelmsford.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Writtle, Chelmsford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterhouse Farm | 660 | 96.3 | +62% |
| St Andrews | 790 | 83.6 | +41% |
| Marconi | 1,245 | 133.4 | +125% |
| Moulsham and Central | 3,977 | 255.8 | +331% |
| Goat Hall | 251 | 41.3 | -30% |
| Chelmsford Rural West | 181 | 53.2 | -10% |
| Patching Hall | 669 | 72.4 | +22% |
| Moulsham Lodge | 197 | 34.9 | -41% |
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 Writtle, Chelmsford over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 38 |
| On or near Bridge Street | 36 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 36 |
| On or near Paradise Road | 16 |
| On or near Lucerne Way | 15 |
| On or near Margaretting Road | 14 |
| On or near Pound Fields | 11 |
| On or near Further/Higher Educational Building | 10 |
| On or near Rectory Road | 9 |
| On or near Cow Watering Lane | 8 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Writtle, Chelmsford 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 137 | 43.1% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 93 | 29.2% |
| Not recorded | 31 | 9.7% |
| Under investigation | 23 | 7.2% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 11 | 3.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 8 | 2.5% |
| Local resolution | 6 | 1.9% |
| Court result unavailable | 4 | 1.3% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.9% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 1 | 0.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 1 | 0.3% |
Writtle, Chelmsford has an estimated population of 5,355. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Writtle, Chelmsford sits in decile 6.9, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Writtle, Chelmsford |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 16.7% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 56.2% |
| Aged 65 and over | 27.1% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 73.2% |
| Social rented homes | 15.7% |
| Private rented homes | 11.2% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.9 |
Is Writtle, Chelmsford a safe place to live?
Writtle, Chelmsford recorded 59.4 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 Writtle, Chelmsford?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 102 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by shoplifting (41).
Is crime in Writtle, Chelmsford going up or down?
Recorded crime in Writtle, Chelmsford was up 5% on the year before: 318 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 304 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Writtle, Chelmsford?
Writtle, Chelmsford 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 Writtle, Chelmsford. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.