London crime maps go online

Londoners CAN find out how much robbery, burglary and car crime takes place in their areas by logging on to a new Metropolitan Police website.

The site uses a colour code to highlight crime hotspots and distinguish between different boroughs. Browsers can zoom in and find out what is going on in areas covering just six streets. The site works in conjunction with the search engine devices Google Maps and Google Earth. A postcode box allows users to hone in on any specific area within the capital so that not only boroughs but council wards and sub-wards can be scrutinised.

Only one borough, Westminster, is marked red for a high level of crime. Four others – Haringey, Southwark, Waltham Forest and Newham – are marked orange for above average. Harrow, Richmond-upon-Thames, Kingston-upon-Thames, and Merton and Sutton are all blue with below average crime levels. The website does not yet include violent crimes, although these may be added later.