New Warwickshire Police website lets public report crimes online and web-chat with operators

The force has teamed up with West Mercia Police to update its existing website and offer new functions.

Both forces will continue to have an independent public website but they have created a single content management system to support the sites. Officers say this means reducing duplication, increasing working efficiencies and ensuring content remains timely, relevant and up-to-date for both forces.

The public can now report a crime online using 101LiveChat, a web-chat system where people can speak to a police operator about any non-urgent crimes such as minor traffic collisions, damaged property, stolen vehicles, suspected drug dealing, if they witnessed a crime or would like any crime prevention advice. Once they log on to the 101LiveChat they will be greeted by a police operator who will assist with the query.

Officers say the trial of this new system provides the public with immediate access to help and will allow the police to answer their questions in real time with precision. If successful, 101LiveChat may become available 24 hours every day.

Warwickshire Police Chief Constable Martin Jelley said: “The new force websites have been designed and built with the end user in mind and members of the public have been involved in the design and creation. Working with our communities on a regularly basis we are committed to continuously developing these sites to ensure they remain useful tools for the public.”

West Mercia Police Chief Constable David Shaw added: “Engagement with our communities on a daily basis is of paramount importance to us. As well as telling people what we are doing, how they can contact us and get involved, these websites provide an excellent modern platform through which people can really make a difference.

“Many people nowadays use digital channels on a daily basis and we want to make engaging with our forces as easy as possible and offer the right services to people in a way they find easy to access.”

Communities can engage with their Safer Neighbourhood Teams on the site and read news stories about their area.

Go to www.warwickshire.police.uk