Manchester police fights crime with Facebook

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Greater Manchester Police has jumped on the Facebook bandwagon and are using the social networking site to catch criminals.

The force's web unit has created its very own Facebook application, to alert Mancunians of local incidents, appeals for information and ongoing operations. It also features a news feed and links to video, all of which can be shared via the networking site.

Current news stories on the feed include sentencing details for two murder trials, appeals for information about robbery by a man with an axe, and calls for help locating two missing people.

The application also links to an online crime reporting form, allowing people to report crimes without picking up the phone or going to another page on the web.

Assistant Chief Constable Rob Taylor said: "This application allows Greater Manchester Police to further raise awareness of incidents taking place within our local communities, in a bid to gain more intelligence and bring offenders to justice."

The force said that 300 people have already added the application, but Facebook is showing about 130 daily active users.

Facebook user Sammie Jane wrote in the comments section: "This is a sure fire way to branch out to the younger generation and also to encourage anonymous information."

Barry Charles wrote: "This is a brilliant idea. The Met should implement something similar for London."

Taylor added: "Greater Manchester Police is proud to be the first force in the country to use this new technology and it demonstrates our commitment to exploring all avenues available to us to help fight and detect crime."

Members of Facebook can add it via the site, or check it out on IT PRO's own page.

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