A brand new app designed to tackle crime has launched in Wandsworth.

Information sent by the Metropolitan Police and Wandsworth Council via OWL (Online Watch Link) can now be received using a mobile app.

Residents can download it for free and receive an instant notification as soon as a new message is sent by their local police officers or council community safety officers.

Without any registration or login, the public can also view recent information on crimes, appeals and crime prevention advice sent to their local area or anywhere in their borough.

The OWL Messaging Service is used by police and council officers in Wandsworth and other London boroughs to send messages directly to registered subscribers by email.

It has been used to alert residents of burglaries, vehicle crime, parcel thefts, missing person appeals, distribute invitations to local safer neighbourhood and ward panel meetings and to provide updates on police and council activities in the borough.

By downloading the OWL app users will receive information based on their current postcode location.

The postcode can be changed and multiple nearby zones of interest can be selected if desired.

No registration is needed and personally identifiable data is not collected.

Cllr Jonathan Cook, Chairman of the Wandsworth Safer Neighbourhood Board, said:

"With the new app Wandsworth’s residents can receive updates on the go. It’s especially important that our residents can feel informed at a time when restrictions will be eased, and the borough will become busier. The app gives guidance as to what to watch out for, allows residents to share intelligence and it also helps the police catch more offenders.

I’d encourage residents to sign up to this app and help us keep Wandsworth the safest inner London borough. "

Search the App Store or Google Play for “owl crime alerts” or use this link.