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Crime maps for the public launched
People across England and Wales can now access details of crime trends in the areas where they live online,
The Neighbourhood crime maps provide a rich picture of crime in police force areas. The public can now access crime maps on the websites of all 43 police forces to see volume of crime as well as crime trends and comparisons with the rest of the country.Neighbourhood crime maps, which are now up and running on all 43 police force websites, provide a good picture of crime trends. To see a crime map people simply have to go to the website of their local force and search for 'crime map'.
The crime maps also allow the public to see how local crime fighting partnerships are impacting on issues of local concern and give people the information they need to dictate local priorities. Information provided is at least ward level and includes information about burglary, robbery, theft, vehicle crime, violent crime and anti-social behaviour. Crime mapping offers people perspective and puts crime into a very local context. Many people will be reassured by what they read and this breakdown of crime figures offers crime fighting partnerships an opportunity to showcase their achievements where they are making a positive impact on issues of local concern.
Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker said: "I am determined to give people the crime information which, as the Casey Review found, they want. Every single police force in England and Wales now has crime mapping. This gives comprehensive knowledge about crime patterns and hotspots to communities. By empowering people with this information they are able to engage more with their neighbourhood policing teams. I am sure this will lead to an even more responsive and effective police, thoroughly in tune with people's needs.
"As a result, crime mapping can help ensure people's voices are heard when police set crime fighting priorities. By rolling out up to date crime maps communities are able to take an informed view about crime in their local area. Providing this information to the public helps to make the police even more accountable."
Neil Rhodes, Deputy Chief Constable of Lincolnshire and ACPO lead on Crime Mapping, said: "Te public can now access improved information on crimes in their local area through interactive online crime maps. The Home Secretary asked police forces in September to deliver crime mapping across the Police Service by the end of December. That was a tough challenge, but forces have stepped up to the mark.
"For many years, all forces have mapped crimes and incidents to help them focus investigations, analyse hot spots and tackle crime vigorously. The information now on the forces' websites has a different more community-focused perspective and means the public can now look at crime levels in their community simply by putting their postcode into their local police force's website.
"Welsh forces and those in the East Midlands region of England (Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire) have chosen to map collaboratively. Not only is this an efficient approach it also means that if you live close to the edge of a police force area, you can look at crime levels in adjoining areas at the click of a button.
"Forces will continue to work hard to provide the public with the very best information, with more facts, to help them understand what is happening in their area and reassure them of what is being done to make them safer."
