Battle crime all mapped out

The website, www.police.uk, crashed within hours of going online as millions of people tried to access the service.

Crimes are divided into six categories: Antisocial Behaviour, Burglary, Robbery, Vehicle Crime, Violent Crime and Other Crime.

Violent Crime includes harassment, assault and GBH, whilst Other Crime covers all other crimes reported to police, including criminal damage, shoplifting and drugs offences.

The map shows that 40 crimes were recorded in Battle in December 2010.

The street with the highest crime rate for the month was Upper Lake, with five incidents of antisocial behaviour and one other crime reported to police.

This was followed by Marley Lane with five reported crimes (one antisocial behaviour, one vehicle crime, three other crimes) and Shirlea View, also with five reported crimes (four antisocial behaviour and one other crime).

In Market Road, which is viewed by some as an antisocial behaviour hotspot, saw just two reported incidents of antisocial behaviour for the whole month.

Antisocial behaviour was the most prevalent crime in the town in December, with 19 reported incidents, followed by Other Crime (14), Vehicle Crime (three), Violent Crime (two) and Burglary (two).

There were no reported robberies in Battle in December.

Over in Netherfield, four crimes were recorded, all committed on or near Darvel Down, including two incidents of antisocial behaviour, one burglary and one other crime.

In Robertsbridge, 14 crimes were recorded: five antisocial behaviour, two violent crimes, two vehicle crimes and five other crimes.

But in other parts of the county, there have been examples of anomalies in the crime figures.

Sussex Police’s main call handling centres, where 999 and non-emergency calls are received, ranked highly on the crime map.

The map shows abnormally high figures of antisocial behaviour incidents at Bolnore Road, Haywards Heath and Church Lane, Lewes - the sites of Haywards Heath Police Station and Sussex Police Headquarters.

A Sussex Police spokesperson said the high figures related to hoax calls, which were recorded on site because there was no alternative location.

And in Hastings, small residential street Oast House Close also ranked very highly for antisocial behaviour, thanks to a high number of incidents reported by the nearby Conquest Hospital.

The website also includes information about the local Neighbourhood Policing Teams and features a section on crime prevention advice.

Visit www.police.uk for more information about crime in your area.