West Midlands Police plan self-service crime reporting

Force Chief Constable Dave Thompson told the Police Federation of England and Wales 'the public are just as capable as the police' when outlining the proposal last week.

The plan, which could come into play after a new force website is rolled out this year, would see victims of less serious crime use a self-service online reporting tool.

Less serious crimes include criminal damage, shoplifting and stealing fuel from petrol stations.

Chief Constable Dave Thompson said: “Most modern companies allow people to do things online.

“The way the public contact the police could be different. We’d never say ‘Do your own interview’.

“Self-service should not be doing your own crime investigations, but there is quite a lot the public could do to help us.”

But the plan has already come under fire.

Steve White, chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said: "The idea of members of the public writing their own statements, uploading their own criminal reports and essentially doing their own investigations is, quite frankly, barmy.

"The police service has to deal with often the most vulnerable in society and to assume that everyone has the ability to start their own police investigation by submitting their own statements is misguided at best.

"Let's be brutally frank. The police service would not have to come up with these sorts of ideas if it was properly resourced."

David Jamieson, the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner said: "We need to be at the cutting edge that enables those who want to be able to report crimes online to do so.

"Crucially, the public won't be forced to use these new tools when they are launched. But they will be an extra option that they can take advantage of should they wish."