Norfolk Police unveils new app to help fight rural crime
Police chiefs will today unveil their latest weapon in the fight against crime, and it's one you could have on your phone.
The Norfolk force is linking up with what3words to launch an app-based system which it says will allow people to tell officers exactly where they are in the county to within just a few metres.
The project is being unveiled on the opening day of the Royal Norfolk Show and is being seen as a major step forward, particularly in tackling rural crime.
Simon Bailey, the force's chief constable, said: "Our rural communities told us about this remarkable technology that can pinpoint a precise location.
"We've been working closely with what3words for a while now to see how we can bring this to Norfolk and integrate the technology into our systems for the benefit of our communities.
"We know it can be difficult for people living and working in the more isolated parts of Norfolk to give us their exact location, and this technology could be groundbreaking in helping us to continue to better serve and support our communities."
The system, which is available as a free app for iPhones and Android devices, works by dividing the world into three metre squares, based on GPS co-ordinates, each with its own unique three word address.
The force says work to upload the technology to its equipment is underway and the system is set to go live in the next few weeks.
Chris Sheldrick, founder and chief executive of what3words, said his own experiences of growing up in the countryside and needing to seek help in an emergency situation, had inspired the project.
He said: "It troubles me to think that if an emergency had happened out in a barn, or if someone was caught in running machinery, we would have struggled to tell emergency services where help was needed fast enough to avoid extensive damage or fatalities.
"We have been working closely with Norfolk Police to get what3words enabled in its control room and will support their efforts to raise awareness amongst the local community. It's incredible to see UK forces like Norfolk embrace technology to respond effectively and quickly to people in need.”
The launch of the app coincides with the publication of the second annual report of the force's rural policing strategy.
The document reveals significant falls in cases of hare coursing, house burglary, fuel thefts and anti-social behaviour in rural areas.
However, there have also been sharp rises in levels of farm crime, vehicle thefts, and break-ins on businesses.
Norfolk police and crime commissioner Lorne Green said: "When I was elected as the PCC, I pledged to drive forward Norfolk's approach to tackling rural crime and this is an important step in using 21st century technology to detect, prevent and disrupt criminality in rural areas and ensure officers can reach people quicker.”
