Government rolls out interactive crime maps

Every neighbourhood in England and Wales will have access to the latest local crime information through new interactive maps.

The intention is that by the end of the year, every police force area will produce crime maps which will allow the public to see where and when crime has happened, down to street level for some crimes; make comparisons with other areas; and learn how local police are tackling crime.

Public crime mapping is part of the Government’s commitment to strengthen community engagement in policing, which is at the heart of the reform programme outlined in the recently published Policing Green Paper.

It is hoped that the information available through the maps will encourage members of the public to get involved in setting local policing priorities to reduce the crime that matters to them in their area.
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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.

“The latest annual crime figures showed another drop in crime nationwide but it’s important that people understand what this means to them in their local area and where challenges remain.

“We are working with the Association of Chief Police Officers to bring in the best police and Government expertise to roll out local crime maps in every neighbourhood by the end of the year. I want to congratulate the West Midlands police force for being among the first to develop this new tool.”