A test version of the Metropolitan Police crime statistics map has gone online showing crime figures broken down by ward and sub-ward - about every 600 households.

A quick search for the Vulture Towers postcode shows we're in a high crime area with 44 crimes in June compared to just 29 in May. Reg staffers were probably not responsible for this spike.

The site is based on Google maps and allows searches by postcode as well as more general browsing. Areas are split into five colours for increasing levels of burglary, robbery and vehicle crime.

Proposals to show more detailed crime maps were promoted by Home Secretary Wacky Jacqui Smith and London Mayor Boris* Johnson. The information was already available on the Met's website, just not in such an easy-to-use way.

Fears were raised over privacy implications of the maps, and estate agents were worried about the impact on house prices - presumably they have other worries now.

The site is available here, but don't all go at once or it will fall over - it's still in beta. ®

* Anyone think of something that rhymes with Boris?

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