COMPUTER software which can pinpoint crime hotspots has been launched in Newton Aycliffe.

The system, introduced after a £38,000 award from the Home Office's crime reduction programme, is being made available in the Durham Constabulary area.

The software uses information from thousands of crime reports over the past three years and data from Sedgefield Borough Council's intelligence information systems.

The information has been overlaid on Ordnance Survey maps, which can pinpoint problem areas to the nearest metre if necessary.

Development of the software was spearheaded at Newton Aycliffe by Sergeant Kevin Blakey and civilian crime analyst Andrew Webb, under the leadership of project manager Detective Chief Inspector Jeff Watson.

Det Chief Insp Watson said: "Even at this early stage we know it works and works well.

"Officers are being directed to where problems are and there is clear evidence that as a result of the attention, crime in that identified hotspot falls."

The computed is capable of reading tens of thousands of records on the system in one-and-a-half minutes.

Mr Webb said: "Everyone who has seen the system in operation acknowledges that the benefits are enormous."