Crime mapping service updated to include street-level information

The latest online crime mapping service is taking information to a new level.

The online crime mapping service, originally launched in 2009 and developed by the National Police Improvement Agency (NPIA) now allows members of the public to see what crimes and anti-social behaviour have taken place on their street.

Users of the site should also be able to link through to their local police website, and find out which officers are responsible for their area. As the site continues to develop it is possible that information on the outcome of court cases for certain crimes could be added.

Steve Mortimore, NPIA Assistant Chief Constable, said: "The combination of a crime map, neighbourhood policing team information and crime prevention advice is needed if it is to have a positive impact on public attitudes and fear of crime."

However, some reservations have been voiced about the project amid fears it could detract from local policing.

Mark Burns Williamson, APA deputy chair of the Association of Police Authorities (APA) said while the service was "a magnificent achievement", and would "mine a world of data, how will it make a difference?"

He was particularly concerned about other parts of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill," could lift the power over policing far away from local neighbourhoods."

The concept of crime maps began with the last Government in 2008 as part of a Green Paper on policing. A Power of Information Taskforce was established by Cabinet Office Minister Tom Watson MP in March that year.

When the initial service went live in 2009, it included maps compiled from data submitted by all 43 forces, such as the Metropolitan Police Force, but it was limited.

The colour-coded internet maps, showed where and when crimes such as burglary, violent crimes and car theft were been committed, but they only showed data down to council ward level.

The aim with the relaunched site remains the same; to give more local information so members of the public can see how police are tackling crimes as well as giving people perspective and putting crime into a local context.

It is also hoped the maps will help police tackle crime, including catching serial offenders and mapping street crime risk so they know how best to deploy policing resources.

The latest launch of the crime mapping service, which has been funded by the Home Office to the tune of £300,000, "helps to justify the investment made by the Police Service in providing local public information as part of a broader neighbourhood policing approach," according to Nipa.

All people need to do to bring up information on their street, is input their postcode. Data on six categories of crime will be available: violent crime, burglary, robbery, vehicle crime, anti-social behaviour and 'other'.

In order to protect the privacy and identify of victims, if a crime is committed in a street with fewer than 12 houses, the crime will be placed in a wider area.