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Crime maps online 'by end 2008' | Crime maps online 'by end 2008' |
(about 4 hours later) | |
New interactive maps which will allow every neighbourhood in England and Wales to access local crime information will be ready by the end of the year. | New interactive maps which will allow every neighbourhood in England and Wales to access local crime information will be ready by the end of the year. |
The government says the crime maps will show the public where and when crime happened, down to the street level for some categories. | The government says the crime maps will show the public where and when crime happened, down to the street level for some categories. |
Since the start of July, all police websites in England and Wales have been publishing monthly crime statistics. | Since the start of July, all police websites in England and Wales have been publishing monthly crime statistics. |
The home secretary said the online maps will keep the public better informed. | The home secretary said the online maps will keep the public better informed. |
Crime maps were part of the Policing Green Paper reforms announced by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith earlier this month. | Crime maps were part of the Policing Green Paper reforms announced by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith earlier this month. |
The government says they will take the rollout of local crime information to the next level. | The government says they will take the rollout of local crime information to the next level. |
The crime maps will feature comparisons with other areas and tell the public how crime is being tackled by their local neighbourhood policing team. | The crime maps will feature comparisons with other areas and tell the public how crime is being tackled by their local neighbourhood policing team. |
Forces already using crime maps in England include West Midlands and West Yorkshire police. | Forces already using crime maps in England include West Midlands and West Yorkshire police. |
'Best weapon' | |
Ms Smith said: "The public are the best weapon for fighting crime. | Ms 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. | "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." | "This will help increase public confidence in the police and make communities safer." |
Sir Norman Bettison, from the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), said: "My own police authority in West Yorkshire started two years ago to make available crime mapping data to keep the public informed about local incidents and trends. | Sir Norman Bettison, from the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), said: "My own police authority in West Yorkshire started two years ago to make available crime mapping data to keep the public informed about local incidents and trends. |
"This fulfils the key responsibility to give information to communities in order that they can see the real level of crime and help the police address it." | "This fulfils the key responsibility to give information to communities in order that they can see the real level of crime and help the police address it." |
London Mayor Boris Johnson has said capital-wide crime-mapping will be available to Londoners from next month. | |
He said that the maps were "a proven technique for increasing public safety and for putting extra resources, including extra police officers, into crime hotspots where they are most needed". | |
"It also has the additional benefit of providing the public with key information, which will enable them to hold the police to account more effectively and help improve police performance." | |
The latest annual crime figures for England and Wales showed police-recorded crime was down 9% last year as part of the longest ever recorded period of falling crime. |
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