| A new scheme has been launched in three towns | | | | people to put themselves at risk by photographing |
| across the UK, encouraging people to report anti-social | | | | perpetrators as they commit the crime, but photos of |
| behaviour using their mobile camera phones. Harlow in | | | | damage caused by anti-social behaviour will be useful |
| Essex (home town of Mouse2house.co.uk) as well as | | | | in monitoring activity and building up evidence". |
| Bristol and Ipswich have been given the opportunity to | | | | According to a police spokesman, the police in Harlow |
| test this new way of reporting anti-social behaviour. | | | | welcome this partnership initiative as it encourages |
| Initially residents are being invited to snap photos of | | | | residents to become involved in helping towards the |
| graffiti and vandalism using their mobile phones, which | | | | improvement of the environment and local community. |
| can then be sent over the mobile phone network to | | | | If the scheme is proven to be successful in the three |
| council officers on 07739 888 558 with the word | | | | towns, it is proposed that the scheme is rolled out |
| Harlow, Bristol or Ipswich (depending on which town | | | | across the rest of the country. |
| you are in) followed by details of where the offence | | | | This type of scheme demonstrates the changing face |
| has taken place. Once the image/s are received at the | | | | of the mobile phone and it's use. It is no longer just a |
| council offices they will then be added to the anti-social | | | | device for making phone calls, but a mobile device with |
| behaviour database, which is shared across several | | | | many uses i.e. photos, video, music, note taking, voice |
| other organisations. The cost of sending a message is | | | | recording etc. Imagine if you are unfortunately involved |
| dependent on the person's mobile phone tariff. | | | | in a minor motor accident, you would be able to take |
| Harlow council joint leader Cllr Chris Millington said: "This | | | | photographic, video and audio records of the incident |
| new service will help increase people's involvement in | | | | details which can later be used as evidence if |
| making Harlow a safer, cleaner place to live by | | | | necessary, no more 3rd parties denying that the |
| expanding the ways in which these crimes are | | | | accident took place or changing the story of what |
| reported to us". "It's important to stress," said the other | | | | actually happened! |
| joint leader, Cllr Kevin Brooks, "that we don't want | | | | |