Crime Mapping Might Create House Buyer No Go Areas

Crime Mapping has gone live in the UK today. Go to police.uk where you can type in a postcode or town and the database will give you detailed information as to the crime types and levels right down to street level.

The aim is to provide complete transparency giving the public up to date accurate information, so that the police force can be held accountable and not use smoke and mirrors with figures.

The Home Secretary Teresa May said: “I think the public reaction will be positive. I think people are going to welcome the fact they can really see what’s happening with crime in their area, not just on their street but in their neighbourhood.

“I think they will feel a greater connection with the police, with much more information about where they can go to, and who they can work with.

“I think that over time it will have an impact on crime. This is about fighting crime together.”

 Nick Herbert, the Minister for Policing and Criminal Justice, has said that crime mapping is a policy which will complement elected police chiefs.

“Together with the introduction of directly elected Police and Crime Commissioners, we are giving people the information and power to hold their local forces to account and ensure that crime in their neighbourhood is driven down.”

The potential downside to this is that the value of properties in recorded hotspots may be hit hard and push house prices right down.  This may be good for the housing market as a whole but not for those being plummeted down into negative equity.

On the opposite side of that argument perceived trouble spots may actually be no more than a myth and make the housing market in those areas buoyant.

However when questioned on how this information might influence house prices Teresa May added “It’s not the existence of a map on a website that affects it.”

“This is giving people a real tool, real power to see that something is being done about crime in their area.

“This doesn’t make them frightened, it actually makes them feel a part of what is happening.

“This will give them the real facts and figures. This will make the police more accountable. It gives people a real tool to hold the police to account.”

What Crime Mapping doesn’t provide are the unreported crimes.  If these figures could be published the maps may look completely different.