The new online crime maps (when they are actually working and not overwhelmed with web traffic) are an impressive piece of technology and very much go with the grain of a whole bunch of things which are happening. Openness of data, online mapping of real events in real locations, interactivity - all very zeitgeist. But their real value lies in making local police more accountable to local people and helping the two work together to find the most appropriate solutions to location-specific problems.
It's a healthy development. The first thing I did (as I suspect did most people who were able to log on) was type in my own postcode. I live in one of the most deprived wards in London and I was reassured to see that in December on my road only two crimes were documented. Crucially though, there were the names and mobile numbers of my local safer neighbourhood police team and the date of the next beat meeting. This humanises the police, and makes them appear as real people on your doorstep with whom you can connect and who are genuinely able to address your concerns. This is important.

The critics of the maps have suggested that they might foster fear of crime and drive down property prices. But if one looks at the detail and zooms in on one's own location, as I did, it can have the opposite effect, one of reassurance. Moreover, being able to see exactly where the problems are and what they are in reality as opposed to perception makes one feel empowered to have a conversation with the police about what the way forward is. As for increasing fear of crime, recent research from Ipsos MORI would indicate otherwise. It found that 60% of respondents wanted information on what police were doing to rreduce crime in their local area, but were not as interested in crime levels.

Whether this online tool will improve the public's satisfaction with the police is another matter. The maps have much more potential than their current form. The one thing which truly would improve confidence would be the ability to click on an individual incident and see its outcome - whether the offender has been caught, what their sanction was, whether they have completed their sentence or not and what has happened since.

The final question is of course one of civic engagement. The maps could have the effect of fostering community spirit, bringing in internet users who wouldn't normally feel comfortable becoming involved with their neighbourhood police team and thus creating a serious local dialogue about crime and justice. But equally they might become the preserve of the small number of very active local people who turn up to every neighbourhood and residents' association meeting and make little difference to the rest. Let us hope that won't be the case.