Durham to launch ‘real-time’ neighbourhood website

Durham Constabulary is planning to use social media to enable people to follow what is happening in their immediate neighbourhood in real time.

The force is developing a new website in partnership with web technology firm C2 Software that will provide a channel for people to view its activities through Twitter feeds from police on the beat, a Facebook page, Flickr and YouTube pages, as well as news reports. The first phase of the site will be launched in early 2012.

A mobile app is also being developed to provide access to the same information through smartphones and tablet computers.

The development follows a consultation with police officers and the public, using focus groups and online surveys to establish what was wanted from the final product.

Superintendent Bill Dutton said the new website would enable the force to engage and work better with communities, to understand their priorities and views and allow them to feed back on the good work that the force is doing on a day-by-day basis, even in real time.