The Welsh Liberal Democrat Social Justice and Communities spokesperson, Peter Black has questioned plans to produce an on-line map detailing crime hot spots around Wales.
He was responding to news that the four Welsh police forces are collaborating in a plan to develop the internet-based system in the hope of providing a unified crime map that will provide statistics for crimes including burglary, car crime and robbery. It is reported that these maps will be detailed enough to include areas as small as sub-wards, which are often just a few streets.
"The Police Federation have labeled these maps as a dangerous 'gimmick' and a potential 'encyclopedia for criminals'", said Mr. Black. "They are worried that criminals will gain access to an encyclopaedia of where to go out and commit crime because they know that the police are vulnerable because they don't have the cover in some areas that they would like to. Criminologists argue that the maps will distort policing priorities, affect house prices and provide opportunities for crooks. In the face of these doubts I do not understand why the police are ploughing ahead with this idea."
"It is true that the data is already publicly available but not in this format. The question is what will the police do after they publish the maps and then find themselves besieged by anxious residents demanding more resources and high profile policing to counter a publicly advertised hotspot? What will the impact be on insurance premiums and house prices? Will these maps become part of the packs that a householder needs to put together before selling their home and will it make a sale more difficult? All I can see are problems with this plan. It is a PR exercise with no upside. I really do think that the Police need to think through what they are doing and how they will deal with the potential pitfalls before jumping into this Home Office initiative feet-first.
