Software enables citizens of the county to provide evidence of various crimes, and will be particularly useful for those affected by ongoing and repeated instances of antisocial behaviour, officers claim

Hertfordshire Constabulary has encouraged citizens of the county to use a recently launched app to submit evidence of crime to the force.

The force first started using the Kulpa app in April. The technology is designed to make it easy for smartphone users to take pictures, or record audio or video, then store it securely, before sharing this at the click of a button – if they so choose – with law enforcement or legal professionals.

Hertfordshire police detective inspector Derek Gray said that citizens can also use the program to provide investigators with the likes of “dashcam footage, CCTV clips… or doorbell footage”.

He added that the force’s deployment of the tech platform has enabled officers “to respond swiftly and effectively to incidents involving aggressive driving, public harassment, theft, criminal damage and youth antisocial behaviour” and other offences.

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Chief constable Andy Prophet added that the app also enables users to “capture CCTV or digital images in real time, which can be used in criminal justice proceedings”.

Citizens of the Hertfordshire who are victims or witnesses of a crime are being encouraged to use the mobile program to provide police with key evidence of offences. The technology may prove particularly useful for those affected by repeated instances of antisocial behaviour in their neighbourhood.

Police and crime commissioner for Hertfordshire, Jonathan Ash-Edwards, said: “It is great to see the constabulary using new technology to provide a better service to the public. The Kulpa app works well for those people suffering from a persistent pattern of behaviour which can stretch over an extended time period. It enables victims to record the evidence in a timely manner and then present it to officers in a simple format. This works well for those suffering from anti-social behaviour as the course of conduct of the offender can be tracked. I welcome the roll out of Kulpa to residents in Hertfordshire and encourage them to use it.”

The public in Hertfordshire is also reminded by police that, as well as the app, anti-social behaviour can be reported via the 101 phone number or on the force’s website. Those in immediate danger should always call 999, the constabulary added.