The National Policing Improvement Agency has worked with Leicester agency Rock Kitchen Harris on an application that allows mobile phone users to bring up local crime figures.

CrimeMapper, available on smart phones from today, allows users to find out the number of crimes committed in their area, trends and the type of crimes most common. The data is shown through simple maps, graphs and reports.

A desktop version of the app was launched in October 2009 on behalf of all the 43 English and Welsh police forces and Rock Kitchen Harris claims it has attracted more than one million visitors and 10m page views.

Paul Sculthorpe, an associate director at the agency who has worked on the project since September 2008, said: "We’re delighted with the response to CrimeMapper since its launch and the addition of the mobile application opens it up to a whole new audience.

“People now have access to a whole array of information about crime rates and police contact information available in any location at the touch of a button. We have also made other improvements to the CrimeMapper system following feedback from users, including a new colour scheme providing a clearer, brighter, more user friendly experience."

Chief inspector Brian Clifford said the app is an "important step forward" and provides "a large amount of information to the public in a clear and user friendly way".