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28 July 2008
Interactive maps on police websites will allow residents to track crime patterns in their communities.
Public crime maps are part of the government’s commitment to get people more involved with their local police. That involvement is at the heart of the reform programme outlined in the policing green paper (new window).
The new maps will give the public the information they need to hold their local police force to account.
Keeping residents aware of local crime
By the end of the year, every police force will begin mapping crime online so that residents can:
- see where and when a crime has happened, down to street level for some crimes
- compare crime rates in their neighbourhood to other areas
- learn how crime is being tackled by local neighbourhood policing teams
Giving people more say
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith announced the new initiative on a visit to Brierley police station in the West Midlands, where she watched a demonstration of local crime maps in action. She met with local residents to discuss how the maps will help them get more involved with local police tackling crime in their area.
The force expects to introduce interactive maps in September. The Home Office is working with the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) to roll out similar crime maps in every neighbourhood.
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said the public are the best weapon for fighting crime.
'By rolling out up-to-date, interactive crime maps, we can better inform people about crime problems in their area, and enable them to have much more of a say in what their local police focus on.
'This will help increase public confidence in the police and make communities safer.'
Giving people more information
ACPO's Sir Norman Bettison said his own police authority in West Yorkshire started mapping crimes two years ago to keep the public informed about local crime trends.
'This fulfils the key responsibility: to give information to communities so they can see the real level of crime, and help the police to address it,' he said.
Hampshire, Lancashire and West Yorkshire (along with the West Midlands) are currently the leading forces on crime maps.
Get involved
The Cabinet Office has set up a blog (new window) where the issue of crime maps is being discussed. Feel free to read what others have posted, and give your own perspective.
