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6 January 2009
People across England and Wales can now access details of crime trends in the areas they live in at the push of a button.
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.
A local perspective on crime
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.
Statement from the 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.'
Statement from the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO)
Neil Rhodes, deputy chief constable of Lincolnshire and Association of Chief Police Officers lead on crime mapping, said, ‘From today, the public will be able to 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.'
Empowerment for local people
Vernon Coaker today saw how crime mapping works in Nottinghamshire.
Nottinghamshire police chief constable Julia Hodson said, ‘I am genuinely excited by this development and have already been clicking on various postcodes to look at the local figures. As a Nottinghamshire resident, I typed in my own postcode and was very encouraged by what I read. There is a lot to feel positive about and I hope this will give people a proper perspective about crime and encourage them to contact with their local partnerships to share any concerns.
‘I am wholeheartedly committed to working with local communities to agree policing priorities and this is a valuable piece of kit in our toolbox because it allows us to share information in a constructive manner. It encourages informed debate and real empowerment of local people.'
Notes to editors
More information on crime mapping (new window) and how it can be used to enhance police performance is available on the Home Office Police website.
Crime mapping is a key part of the national Policing Pledge (new window) which for the first time sets out for the public the service that they can expect to receive from the police. It includes standards and commitments on response times, neighbourhood policing community engagement and time spent on patch, provision of local information about crime and policing issues in local areas, complaints procedures and follow up for victims of crime.
Findings from the Casey review indicate that when asked who they would trust as a source for national statistics on crime, the top answer from the public (48%) was an independent watchdog.
