This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-15487151
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| More crimes added to police mapping website | More crimes added to police mapping website |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| People will be now able to compare their police force with others in more detail as the government's crime mapping website is being extended. | People will be now able to compare their police force with others in more detail as the government's crime mapping website is being extended. |
| The police.uk website allows users to see offences reported in their locality by entering a street name or postcode. | The police.uk website allows users to see offences reported in their locality by entering a street name or postcode. |
| The website now compares all 43 forces in England and Wales with others on crime rates and victim satisfaction. | The website now compares all 43 forces in England and Wales with others on crime rates and victim satisfaction. |
| A wider range of offences such as theft, shoplifting, criminal damage and drugs will now also be included. | |
| By the end of the year, the website is set to include the naming of specific pubs, clubs, football stadiums, parks and shops around which crime and anti-social behaviour is concentrated. | By the end of the year, the website is set to include the naming of specific pubs, clubs, football stadiums, parks and shops around which crime and anti-social behaviour is concentrated. |
| At present, crimes are mapped to an anonymous point called a "snap-point" on a street with 12 or more postal addresses. | At present, crimes are mapped to an anonymous point called a "snap-point" on a street with 12 or more postal addresses. |
| By May 2012, the website will show what has happened after a crime has been reported to the police and track its progress through the courts. | By May 2012, the website will show what has happened after a crime has been reported to the police and track its progress through the courts. |
| Policing minister Nick Herbert said the scheme had made the police service more transparent, adding that with more than 430 million hits it had been "a staggering success since its launch". | Policing minister Nick Herbert said the scheme had made the police service more transparent, adding that with more than 430 million hits it had been "a staggering success since its launch". |
| The minister said that extending the service meant "giving the public more information about crimes in their street, and the ability to compare the performance of their force with others". | The minister said that extending the service meant "giving the public more information about crimes in their street, and the ability to compare the performance of their force with others". |
| "This is putting power and information in the hands of the public," he said. | "This is putting power and information in the hands of the public," he said. |
| The BBC's home affairs correspondent Matt Prodger says whereas the government sees it as a powerful tool to hold local police, and eventually, elected police commissioners, to account, critics of the website believe mapping crime can alarm and mislead people. | |
| The website relies on reported incidences of crime, he says, and there has been criticism that it may skew perceptions because people in wealthier areas are more likely to report offending. | |
| When it was launched in February, the website crashed due to the number of people wanting to access it. | When it was launched in February, the website crashed due to the number of people wanting to access it. |
| Since then it has had more than 400 million hits. | Since then it has had more than 400 million hits. |