People can now keep an eye on crime trends in their neighbourhood at the click of a mouse.

All 43 police force websites across England and Wales are now publishing maps with up to date crime figures at neighbourhood level.

The crime maps also allow the public to see how local crime-fighting partnerships are impacting on issues of local concern.

The plans were originally announced last summer by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, who pledged that all forces in England & Wales would be online by the end of 2008.

Now it is possible to access figures including anti-social behaviour, theft, robbery, violent crime and car crime broken down by council ward and in some cases even at street level.

But the Police Federation of England and Wales, who represent rank and file officers, has concerns.

Vice Chairman Simon Reed said he believes the monthly publication of crime figures on the internet may "feed local criminal intelligence".

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