Halton police unveil interactive crime map

Halton Region residents can now see what crimes have been committed in their neighbourhoods in an interactive map.

Halton Regional Police unveiled their new interactive mapping software Thursday.

Residents will be able to see what crimes were committed — including break-and-enters and thefts — and where they happened.

Halton Police Chief Stephen Tanner said the map will provide the public with valuable information.

“I think that’s really a trend that we’ve seen in policing in recent years — to be more transparent, more informative,” he said.

“We know that we’re not in this business on our own. We’re in it with our communities. We need community support to solve crime.”

Tanner said the map will increase public awareness and hopes residents will be more alert to suspicious activity in their neighbourhoods and in turn, report it.

The service will cost $2,000 per year.

“It’s such an insignificant amount when you look at the power of the information that you’re sharing and the transparency with our community,” Tanner said.

“It’s really a no-brainer.”

Tanner said the force will issue e-alerts of recent crime to residents who sign up for them.

“We’re also able to send that information out to people that sign up for it in the form of an alert.”

The map refreshes at midnight daily with new information.

Police in Toronto, York and Durham Regions have similar software already.

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