Criminals could have sentences posted online 'to show people justice is being done'

By Daily Mail Reporter
Updated: 11:38 EST, 7 March 2011

Transparency: Mr Herbert told MPs the website gives communities the information they need to hold local police to account

Transparency: Mr Herbert told MPs the website gives communities the information they need to hold local police to account

Criminals could have their sentences posted on a Government-backed website so the public knows they are being punished, the government revealed today.

Policing Minister Nick Herbert told MPs the coalition hoped to build on the success of its crime-mapping website which shows how many offences have been committed in particular streets.

He said the website - www.police.uk - had received nearly 400 million hits since its launch five weeks ago.

Mr Herbert said: 'This website is a strong example of this Government's commitment to greater transparency in public services, giving communities the information they need to hold their local police to account.'

Speaking at Home Office Questions in the Commons, Mr Herbert said the coalition planned to release more information through the website.

He said: 'Six trail-blazing police forces are looking at how this can be done, including looking at how we can provide sentencing outcome information so the public would know not just that the crime was committed, but what happened afterwards in the criminal justice system.'

The crime-mapping website was launched on January 31, but was hit by a series of first-day problems as it crashed under huge demand.

The site revealed a string of anomalies, including a spike in anti-social behaviour on a street featuring a 999 contact centre because hoax emergency calls were recorded as anti-social behaviour.

Popular: The Police.UK website has attracted more than 400million hits in the five weeks that it has been available

Popular: The Police.UK website has attracted more than 400million hits in the five weeks that it has been available

Comments (0)

Share what you think

We are no longer accepting comments on this article.

Who is this week's top commenter? Find out now