Either use the search to find your postcode, street or a local landmark which will show crime detail at the most local level. Alternatively, you can drag and zoom the map to change the level of detail. The current zoom level will be indicated by the indicator in the "Map info" panel on the right of the screen.
At its most detailed level the map contains a large amount of information that can cause even the most efficient web browsers to run very slowly. To ensure the best performance the map only shows smaller detailed areas at a lower zoom level. It is possible to show ward and sub-ward detail for a specific borough by selecting "Compare crime levels in selected borough" in the "Refine Map" menu.
Areas of London are colour coded to show how their crime rates compare to the average for London.
The following ranges are used on the map where the local rate compared to the average for London is:
The Crime Mapping website contains a lot of information, so the speed of the map depends on the computer and internet browser you are using. A newer or different web brower may help if the maps seem slow or unresponsive.
Crime Maps will be updated monthly. This is consistent with the way crime statistics are currently released by the Home Office.
The map shows boroughs, electoral wards and sub-wards (also known as Lower Super Output Areas). For more information see the Glossary.
When looking at larger areas of London a crime rate is used to show the number of crimes per 1,000 head of population during a specific amount of time. This makes it easier to compare between areas of London that have very different population numbers. Wherever possible actual crime numbers are shown
Yes. The Met has consulted fully with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) and is satisfied that the Met has considered the data protection issues and that there are sufficient safeguards to protect the identity of crime victims for the crime shown on the map. The Met will continue to seek advice from the ICO as the map is developed.
In the UK the Met is bound by the Data Protection Act and Human Rights Act. The Met is not allowed to publish data that may inadvertently identify a living individual. This would be a contravention of these acts which are to ensure that individuals and victims physical safety and emotional well-being are protected. The Met has worked closely with the Information Commissioner's Office to ensure full compliance with legislation governing which and in what form crimes can be released.
Local issues would be handled by your Safer Neighbourhoods team. You can find your local team by finding your area on the Crime Map and by clicking the link in the right hand panel on the map or via the pop up. 'More information about Safer Neighbourhoods'.
The National Census April 2001. For more information please refer to the Office of National Statistics.
Standard Deviation of the crime rate has been used to calculate the colour codes for the map. Most areas (just under 70%) have crime rates that are close to the average for the Met as a whole and will be within what statisticians would calculate as one standard deviation of the mean. Increasingly fewer areas would be outside this range and be within either two or three standard deviations of the mean.
Boroughs, wards or sub-wards where the crime rate is within one standard deviation of the Met mean crime rate, are described as "average" and coloured on our maps as yellow. See the Glossary for more on standard deviation.
Based on advice from the Information Comissioner some crimes cannot be shown to ward or sub-ward level as this risks identifying specific victims or crimes.