Crime-busting has been stepped up a gear with a new cyber tool.

The town centre radio scheme Swale Safe has set up a new website for the borough to give members the opportunity to instantly report any incidents of concern.

Shops and businesses will also receive up-to-date information, with photographs when available, of incidents that have been reported by other members of the scheme. It is hoped the website will make Sheerness town centre a safer place to visit and enable fuller information to be shared more quickly.

For those who don’t have access to the internet, there will be bi-monthly meetings at Sittingbourne and Sheerness libraries to receive information in hard copy.

Operation Manager of Swale Safe Jenny Bravery said: “The new website will be invaluable for reporting incidents to our members, issuing images - particularly of the most prolific offenders - connecting the business community and also as a messaging service for us and our partners in the Community Safety Partnership.

"We are extremely grateful to them for their support.”

Talik Raj from Mart Wines in Sheerness is a strong supporter of Swale Safe. He said: “It makes me feel safe and it’s informative as I know what’s going on in the town.

"It’s good to keep in touch with other businesses and I have relayed information through to CCTV and other radio users so that they are aware of incidents as they occur.”

Libby Tucker, of Sheerness Swimming Pool, said: “The radio is permanently on so we can hear what’s happening and who is heading in our direction.

"Once individuals know we have the radio it can act as a deterrent to would-be offenders. The police have responded quickly when we’ve needed to use the radio to call for help.”