NWPD joins forces with CrimeReports.com
New Westminster residents can now find out what kind of crime is happening in their neighbourhoods with a few clicks of the mouse.
The city’s police department has hooked up with CrimeReports.com, which is operated by Utah-based Public Engines, to provide up-to-date statistics and incident information to the public.
“From a community policing perspective the more information we can put in the public’s hands the better,” said NWPD Staff Sgt. Paul Hyland. “At the end of the day the public has the right to be informed, so the more information we can arm them with, the more vigilant they can be and check their community. The more engaged we can get them to be at all levels the more successful we’re going to be.”
Hyland said if there’s a rash of crime in an area, residents can be more vigilant and proactive.
The public can access the data by clicking on the crime maps icon on the NWPD homepage, www.nwpolice.org, or by going to www.crimereports.com. There’s also an iPhone app that can be downloaded for free from the Apple iTunes store. Residents can even sign up for free customized daily, weekly or monthly email updates.
“Providing reliable, timely information to our citizens is one of our top priorities, because an informed public is a safer public,” said New Westminster Chief Const. David Jones in a press release. “Partnering with Public Engines gives us the ability to keep the public informed on a regular basis as to what is going on in the community.”
The Abbotsford and Victoria police departments are already utilizing the service.
“We really like the tool. I would suggest that for us it is more of a sharing tool than an investigative one,” said Abbotsford Const. Ian MacDonald.
“We think it is a very good public engagement-community partnership tool.”
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