A smartphone application designed to help people avoid ‘high crime zones’ has revealed most dangerous areas to walk in Swindon.

The WalkSafe app alerts users when they enter 'high crime zones' and has grown in popularity in recent years.

A map of the town shows users reports of crime taken from monthly police reports including sexual assaults, muggings and knife crime.

How does the app work?

WalkSafe visualises crime reports which have been published by the police, so you can plan your route more safely and effectively.

Its HomeSafe function estimates how long it should take you to get somewhere (and alerts a loved one if your journey doesn’t go to plan), while TapSafe allows you to send a contact your location details.

WalkSafe automatically alerts you when you walk near an area with any reported crime and helps you to divert your route.

Each coloured dot seen on the map represents a different report of crime.

Red means assault, black means knife crime and yellow means mugging.

The colours on the TapSafe feature will change depending on the time of day, allowing for discreet use at night time and reducing the risk of alerting a potential attacker.

The algorithm cycles through the most recent month of police data, refreshing the map twice per week.

The app is free and there are no in app purchases either.

Crime reported on the streets of Swindon - a quick round-up:

Stratton

Burden Close: Assault

Colebrook Road: Assault

Corinium Way: Assault

Crawley Avenue: Assault

Haig Close: Assault

Winton Road: Assault

Pinnock’s Drive: Assault

Central Swindon

Bowood Road: Mugging

Cambria Place: Mugging

The Parade: Assault, Mugging

Toothill

Beaulieu Close: Assault

Oakham Close: Assault

Turnham Green: Assault

Liden

Grundys: Knife crime

Hathersage Moor: Assault

Walcot

Calvert Road: Assault

Salcombe Grove: Assault

Selwood Close: Assault

Covingham

Verney Close: Assault

Moredon

Beaney View: Assault

Boscombe Road: Assault

Edith New Close: Assault

Elborough Road: Assault

Shanklin Road: Assault

Penhill

Crossways Avenue: Assault

Minety Road: Assault

Potterdown Road: Assault

Wroughton

St Andrews Close: Assault

Potterdown Road: Assault

Crime statistics context

It is important to note that crime statistics alone do not tell the full story of a community, and different factors will contribute to crime levels.

Police forces have pointed out in the past that data about reports of crime can lack context.

For example, the way crime is recorded can make certain areas look more affected, because of a nearby nightlife or shoplifting hotspot.

And some calls to police may turn out to be false alarms.

Nevertheless publicly available information on reports of crime can be a useful way for people to get a feeling for where they live and take steps to feel safer.