Havering Council has backed the launch of a new mobile app to support the local Online Watch Link (OWL) neighbourhood watch scheme.
It has joined local police and the Safer Neighbourhood Board in supporting the initiative, which is aimed at making it easier for residents of the borough to report and keep up with crime and anti-social behaviour in their areas, and to hear about any action taken.
Users will receive a notification as soon as a new alert is by their local police officers of council community safety officers. They can choose specify types of alerts on crimes such as burglaries and vehicle crime and from ActionFraud on scams, and to translate them to any language if the phone’s default language is not English.
The app also provides information on the nearest police officers and police stations, the local priorities for the area.
All of the information is kept on a secure platform.
The OWL app has been developed by Direct Path Solutions and can be downloaded for free.
Reaching residents
Leader of Havering Council Cllr Ray Morgon said: “Along with the police, we are pleased to be supporting this app – it is another way the OWL scheme can reach our residents and enable them to report anti-social behaviour and crime.
“It also means they get to know what is going on where they live and be aware of issues on their doorstep.
“The scheme also means working even closer with our neighbourhood watch groups and other community groups, who are also our eyes and ears out there.”
The OWL scheme is also in operation across neighbouring Barking and Dagenham and Redbridge.
