HOME OFFICE News
Release (001/2009) issued by COI News Distribution Service. 6
January 2009
People across
England and Wales can now access details of crime trends in the
areas where they live at the push of a button, Home Office
Minister Vernon Coaker announced today.
The Neighbourhood crime maps provide a rich picture of crime in
police force areas. The public can now access crime maps on the
websites of all 43 police forces to see volume of crime as well as
crime trends and comparisons with the rest of the country.
The crime maps also allow the public to see how local crime
fighting partnerships are impacting on issues of local concern and
give people the information they need to dictate local priorities.
Information provided is at least ward level and includes
information about burglary, robbery, theft, vehicle crime, violent
crime and anti-social behaviour.
Crime mapping offers people perspective and puts crime into a
very local context. Many people will be reassured by what they
read and this breakdown of crime figures offers crime fighting
partnerships an opportunity to showcase their achievements where
they are making a positive impact on issues of local concern.
Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker said:
"I am determined to give people the crime information which,
as the Casey Review found, they want. Every single police force in
England and Wales now has crime mapping. This gives comprehensive
knowledge about crime patterns and hotspots to communities.
"By empowering people with this information they are able to
engage more with their neighbourhood policing teams. I am sure
this will lead to an even more responsive and effective police,
thoroughly in tune with people's needs.
"As a result, crime mapping can help ensure people's
voices are heard when police set crime fighting priorities. By
rolling out up to date crime maps communities are able to take an
informed view about crime in their local area. Providing this
information to the public helps to make the police even more accountable."
Neil Rhodes, Deputy Chief Constable of Lincolnshire and
Association of Chief Police Officers lead on Crime Mapping, said:
"From today, the public will be able to access improved
information on crimes in their local area through interactive
online crime maps. The Home Secretary asked police forces in
September to deliver crime mapping across the Police Service by
the end of December. That was a tough challenge, but forces have
stepped up to the mark.
"For many years, all forces have mapped crimes and incidents
to help them focus investigations, analyse hot spots and tackle
crime vigorously. The information now on the forces' websites
has a different more community-focused perspective and means the
public can now look at crime levels in their community simply by
putting their postcode into their local police force's website.
"Welsh forces and those in the East Midlands region of
England (Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire,
Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire) have chosen to map
collaboratively. Not only is this an efficient approach it also
means that if you live close to the edge of a police force area,
you can look at crime levels in adjoining areas at the click of a button.
"Forces will continue to work hard to provide the public
with the very best information, with more facts, to help them
understand what is happening in their area and reassure them of
what is being done to make them safer."
Vernon Coaker today saw how crime mapping works in Nottinghamshire.
Nottinghamshire Police Chief Constable Julia Hodson said:
"I am genuinely excited by this development and have already
been clicking on various postcodes to look at the local figures.
As a Nottinghamshire resident, I typed in my own postcode and was
very encouraged by what I read. There is a lot to feel positive
about and I hope this will give people a proper perspective about
crime and encourage them to contact with their local partnerships
to share any concerns.
"I am wholeheartedly committed to working with local
communities to agree policing priorities and this is a valuable
piece of kit in our toolbox because it allows us to share
information in a constructive manner. It encourages informed
debate and real empowerment of local people."
NOTE TO EDITORS
1. For more on crime mapping and how it can be used to enhance
police performance go on the web to http://police.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/performance-and-measurement/crime_mapping_1.pdf.
2. Crime mapping is a key part of the national Policing Pledge
which for the first time sets out for the public the service that
they can expect to receive from the police. It includes standards
and commitments on response times, neighbourhood policing
community engagement and time spent on patch, provision of local
information about crime and policing issues in local areas,
complaints procedures and follow up for victims of crime.
3. Findings from the Casey review indicate that when asked who
they would trust as a source for national statistics on crime, the
top answer from the public (48 per cent) was an independent watchdog.
020 7035 3835