LANCASHIRE residents can find out exactly how much crime is happening in their area thanks to new online maps issued by the police.

You can visit the force website and enter your postcode - or that of a prospective house - and discover how many times, and for what reasons, police have been called to their area.

The statistics are broken down by police and council wards and help to highlight hot spots for burglaries, vehicle crimes, drug crimes and anti-social behaviour.

The information can be viewed as a table, or as an interactive map that allows you to pick which crimes are highlighted.

All 43 police forces in the country have had to introduce the measure by the Home Office.

A spokesman for Lancashire Constabulary said: “This is part of our commitment to fulfil the Policing Pledge launched at the end of last year.

"A picture of where crime occurs is mapped to a level that means something to communities and means the public can now look at crime levels in their community simply by putting their postcode into the force’s website.

“We will continue to work hard to provide the public with the very best information, with more facts, to help them understand what is happening in their area and reassure them of what is being done to make them safer.”

Statistics for five streets

  • Hyndburn Road, Accrington, BB5 1AT - Central ward Policing priorities - early morning damage to cars; teens congregating at Gordon Avenue substation; traffic congestion around five schools.

Calls to police - 3833 Calls to ambulance - 909 Calls to fire - 169 Drugs related crime - 14 Domestic burglary - 21 vehicle crime - 53 anti-social behaviour - 853.

  • Shadsworth Road, Blackburn, BB1 2AU - Shadsworth with Whitebirk ward.

Policing priorities - criminal damage on Borrowdale Avenue; graffiti in Hillside Close; anti social behaviour in Hereford Road.

Calls to police - 6084. Calls to ambulance - 1132. Calls to fire - 212. Drugs related crime - 26. Domestic burglary - 108. Vehicle crime - 79. Anti-social behaviour - 1848.

  • Castle Street, Clitheroe, BB7 2BX - Littlemoor ward.

Policing priorities - Speeding Chatburn Road and Pendle Road; juvenile nuisance.

Calls to police - 952. Calls to ambulance - 279. Calls to fire - 33. Drugs related crime - 3. Domestic burglary - 7. Vehicle crime - 11. Anti-social behaviour - 293.

  • Parliament Street, Burnley, BB11 3JU - Rosehill with Burnley Wood ward.

Policing priorities - anti-social behaviour in the Reed Street / Springfield Road areas; drug issues in Burnley Wood.

Calls to police - 3893. Calls to ambulance - 717. Calls to fire - 142. Drugs related crime - 25. Domestic burglary - 131. Vehicle crime - 104. Anti-social behaviour - 1020.

  • Bacup Road, Rawtenstall BB4 7HB - Hareholme ward.

Policing priorities - Anti-social behaviour on the Staghills Estate.

Calls to police - 2508. Calls to ambulance - 659. Calls to fire - 77. Drugs related crime - 11. Domestic burglary - 67. vehicle crime - 51. Anti-social behaviour - 580.

HOW TO FIND THE STATISTICS FOR YOUR AREA

Visit www.lancashire.police.uk, enter your postcode and then scroll down to 'community safety statistics' to access the maps.