Smartphone app provides interactive crime-mapping

The Policing Minister has launched a new interactive smartphone application this week which uses crime-mapping data from the Government’s Police.uk website.

Residents in Surrey will be the first to benefit from the ‘Surrey Police Beat’ app which allows users to view what crimes are happening on their streets in a convenient format, and for the first time gives live updates on where and how neighbourhood police teams are taking action.

Surrey Police is one of six ‘trailblazer’ forces which are working on innovative ways to display street-level data about crime and anti-social behaviour.

Nick Herbert hailed the move as a “significant milestone in our drive for even greater transparency across policing and the wider criminal justice system”.

He said: “We want to provide communities with the information they need so that they are empowered to work together with the police to tackle the issues that matter to them locally.

“This new phone app builds on the success of the national crime mapping website, www.police.uk, which kick-started this process and I am keen to take crime maps to the next level as soon as possible. By May next year, the public will be able to use the website, not only to see information about crime and anti-social behaviour on our streets, but crucially what happens after an incident occurs.”

Users of the app will be able to find details about their local neighbourhood officers and how to contact them. In addition, information about local events and the opportunity to vote on local policing priorities will also be available.

Over the coming months other forces are expected to showcase how they are making information available in new and creative ways, including through the provision of more frequent and detailed crime data.