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The locals in Surrey no longer have to wonder what their local policemen are up to, thanks to a new first-of-its-kind interactive iPhone app that has been developed by Multizone Limited, a software specialist company.

The free to download app has been designed to allow the public to interact with their local neighbourhood teams. It allows people to see exactly where the safer neighbourhood officers are and what they are and have been doing.

The app shows where the police are on a map, and provides a system enabling the public to rate the local priorities of tasks that the police force has set. The comments and ratings are displayed on Twitter in real-time.

The app provides information on how best to get in touch with the right officers and also offers details on local events.

Nick Herbert, policing and criminal justice minister, said: 'We want to provide communities with the information they need so that they are empowered to work together with the police to tackle the issues that matter to them locally. This new app not only gives residents in Surrey the ability to view what crimes are happening on their streets in a convenient format, but crucially provides them with live updates on where and how their local neighbourhood police teams are taking action to tackle issues...It builds on the success of the national crime mapping website, Police.uk, which kick-started this process and I am keen to take crime maps to the next level as soon as possible.'

Gavin Stephens, chief superintendent for Surrey police, said: 'We are known as an innovative force and this new app demonstrates how we can utilise new technology and the constantly expanding, increasingly important social media to help us meet both the demands of modern day of modern policing and the demands of the public.'

The feedback has so far been positive, and the public has also taken to viewing the police force's Twitter page. And the fact that the Surrey public can access police information so easily from their handheld devices is 'literally putting policing in their pockets', said Stephens.

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