Online crime map crashes at launch

An online map that shows the levels of crime in England and Wales has crashed at launch.

The interactive map, put together by the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA), was inaccessible at 0930BST this morning.

A NPIA spokesman told Web User: "We're having a few temporary issues with the site but that's due to the level of public demand. It should be up and running very soon."

The site takes information from 43 separate regional crime maps, launched in January, and makes all the data available in one place.

This means that residents of Glamorgan, for example, can now compare crime levels in their local area with those in Kent.

You can also get a breakdown on types of crime including burglary, robbery, violence and vehicle crime.

Policing and Crime Minister David Hanson said: "Giving communities access to information like this not only improves public confidence but ensures police are responding to local people's needs."

UPDATE 1010BST: The site now appears to be working, though is slow to load.

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