Minor crime accounts for around 50% of all recorded crime in the UK. The administrative burden of this is heavy

Assistant chief constable Martin Papworth

A special terminal at Strathclyde Police headquarters picks up the details of the reported crime.

Initial reports are scanned for immediacy of action and then faxed to the relevant divisional crime manager for assessment, allocation and enquiry as required.

Assistant chief constable Martin Papworth said the system was the way forward for the force.

He said: "Minor crime accounts for around 50% of all recorded crime in the UK. The administrative burden of this is heavy and can be very time consuming.

"The provision of this online facility has the potential to significantly reduce that burden on the force."

Criminal damage

ACC Papworth said the website could be seen as a new contact route for the public which could be used in addition to the current system of telephone and face-to-face services.

The sort of crime the police say should be recorded online includes low value theft and criminal damage.

The website is not designed to be used for serious crimes or incidents that are still in progress.

The new website went 'live' in England and Wales during May 2001.

It was developed as part of the government's agenda to create a modern interface between the police and the public.

It is the first step for the police service in working towards the government's objectives to provide all services to the citizen electronically by 2005.