Thames Valley Police launches new crime data platform
The force is hoping to improve transparency with the public and hold the force to account
Thames Valley Police has introduced a new online platform to provide the public with up-to-date crime statistics, aiming to enhance transparency and improve community engagement.
The data hub allows residents to access information on various types of crimes within their local areas.
Matthew Barber, the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Thames Valley, said: "The data hub is simply a way of us sharing some really key crime statistics in a really simple way with the public."
"This is very much about seeing the information that's already there, so this isn't about reporting instances, but it's about being able to see what is being reported more easily."
The platform aligns with the three main pillars of the police and crime plan, focusing on protecting people, protecting property, and protecting communities.
It includes data on residential burglary, incidents of violence, car crime, and the police response times to emergency calls.
The intuitive platform contains figures from statistics collated by the force, showing how a type of crime has evolved over time.
Among the first findings published on the platform are Thames Valley's lower-than-average rate of residential burglaries.
The platform's introduction is part of a broader initiative to increase transparency within the force.
Mr Barber said: "Not every crime that the police are dealing with will generate a press release and will be featured on the website because so much of that day to day work goes on behind the scenes, whereas this absolutely looks at everything that the police are doing and gives a much broader sweep of police activity."
"This is about having that really simple way of finding out about some of the key issues."
It aims to present this data in a straightforward manner, making it easier for the public to understand.
"Hopefully over time, we'll be able to expand it to include more crime types and be able to delve down a little bit deeper into some of the figures," he added.
You can find the platform on the Thames Valley Police website.