Police launch mapping tool to show crime across Vancouver

Police have created the interactive crime mapping tool GeoDash for smartphones, tablets, and computers. (CTV News).

Ever wonder which Vancouver neighbourhoods have the most – or the least – crime? A new tool launched recently by police might be just the thing you’re looking for.

Police have created the interactive crime mapping tool GeoDash for smartphones, tablets, and computers, showing what type of crimes are happening in which neighbourhoods across the city.

“We think there’s value in the public being aware of what’s going on in their particular neighbourhood,” says Chief Adam Palmer. “We get a lot of questions from the general public about crime in our city…and this will give people better awareness about what’s happening.”

Officers have been using the tool for the last year, Palmer adds, noting that GeoDash is intended to provide more public awareness and transparency. Anything from homicides to car break-ins will be tracked on the map, which is refreshed and updated every 24 hours.

The map shows where the crime took place, the time of day, and the type of crime. It even analyzes trends, displaying whether crime is increasing or decreasing in certain areas.

For example, a quick search of the map shows Kitsilano has the most residential break-ins of any neighbourhood, while downtown's Seymour Street has had 15 car break-ins in the past week alone.

Privacy is critical, says Palmer, and no personal or identifiable information about victims of violent crimes will be made public.

“It was extremely important when we were developing this crime mapping tool that we wanted to look after people’s privacy and make sure that was a priority that wasn’t compromised,” he says, noting that personal attacks will be shown at randomized intersections in the same 100-block versus exact addresses.

Some people worry the app could create unnecessary fear, perhaps unfairly swaying opinions about certain neighbourhoods. Yet police insist that’s not the goal – the purpose is to arm Vancouverites with information.

“We believe it provides people with better information about crime in their city,” Palmer says. “And we hope it inspires people to participate in…crime prevention groups we have in the city.”

With files from CTV Vancouver’s Scott Roberts