West Midlands Police has launched the new service as part of the force’s ongoing commitment to keeping in touch with local communities.

Called ‘WMNow’ the service is free to sign up to and members of the public can register according to their interests and where they live and work. 

It provides updates about what’s happening in all areas across the West Midlands - whether it’s details of incidents, timely crime prevention advice, community events or appeals for information.  It ensures the public receive targeted updates that are focused on their own interests and areas.  

The system forms part of the force’s ‘Active Citizens’ programme which supports members of the public in becoming more active in their communities and getting involved in some of the big decisions that affect where they live and work. Chief Superintendent Sally Bourner, WMP lead for Active Citizens said:

"Social media such as Twitter and Facebook have really improved the exchange of information between us and the public and WMNow takes this one step further. We can now give you information tailored to exactly what you’ve told us you are interested in.  This reduces ‘information overload’ and ensures updates are relevant for you, via a channel that you choose.  

"All local police teams will use the system to send information out to their neighbourhoods and answer any questions you have. We’re keen for it to be a two way process, we want to hear from you about any issues or concerns you have and also any important information you may want to share.

The service allows the public to tell police directly about local issues, which will allow officers to intervene early and potentially prevent matters from escalating into bigger problems. The information and intelligence treceived from members of the public can be absolutely crucial in preventing and detecting crime and anti-social behaviour, so the more people that join WMNow, the safer the West Midlands will be.

The system is free to join and easy to use. Signing up takes less than five minutes by visiting wmnow.co.uk.