UK to get online crime maps

Online maps will allow residents to see where and when a crime has happened

UK residents are to have access to online maps detailing crime patterns in their communities by the end of the year.

The new initiative was announced by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith as part of the reform programme outlined in the Policing Green Paper (PDF).

"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," said Smith.

"This will help to increase public confidence in the police and make communities safer."

The maps will allow residents to see where and when a crime has happened, down to street level for some crimes, as well as compare crime rates in their neighbourhood to other areas.

Several police forces, including Hampshire, Lancashire, West Yorkshire and West Midlands, are already trialling the service and claim to have had good responses from the communities.

The authorities hope that the local crime maps will help get residents more involved with local police tackling crime in their area.