A SAFETY app has been helping residents choose better routes by avoiding 'high crime zones' in Dorset.

The WalkSafe app, which can be downloaded on your smartphone, alerts users when they enter 'high crime zones' and has grown in popularity in the wake of Sarah Everard's murder.

The map shows users reports of crime taken from monthly police reports in the area, including sexual assault, mugging and knife crime.

However, it is key to note that crime statistics alone do not tell the full story of a community, and different factors will contribute to crime levels.

Police forces have pointed out in the past that data about reports of crime can lack context.

How does the app work?

WalkSafe visualises crime reports which have been published by the police, so you can plan your route more safely and effectively.

Its HomeSafe function estimates how long it should take you to get somewhere (and alerts a loved one if your journey doesn’t go to plan), while TapSafe allows you to send a contact your location details.

WalkSafe automatically alerts you when you walk near an area with any reported crime and helps you to divert your route.

The app is free and there are no in app purchases either.

Each coloured dot seen on the map represents a different report of crime.

Red means violence/sexual assault, black means knife crime, light blue means feeling unsafe, and yellow means mugging.

The colours on the TapSafe feature will change depending on the time of day, allowing for discreet use at night time reducing the risk of alerting a potential attacker.

However, the app's website does stress all police data can't be shown at once, as "the map would be too cluttered to read".

Instead, the algorithm cycles through the most recent month of police data, refreshing the map twice per week.

Crime reported on the streets of Dorset - a quick round-up:

Beaminster

Cockroad Lane - Violence/sexual assault

Hogshill Mead - Violence/sexual assault

Blandford Forum

Avebury Court - Violence/sexual assault

Off Langton Road - Violence/sexual assault

Off Salisbury Road - Violence/sexual assault

Wyvern Way - Violence/sexual assault

Bridport

East Street - Violence/sexual assault

Off Skilling Hill Road - Violence/sexual assault

Fulbrooks Lane - Violence/sexual assault (Two reports)

Green Lane - Violence/sexual assault

Rawles Way - Violence/sexual assault

Rivervale - Violence/sexual assault

St James Park (Bradpole) - Violence/sexual assault

West Road – Knife crime (two reports)

Broadwinsor

The Hayes - Violence/sexual assault

Charlton Down

Birch Way – Knife crime

Charmouth

Barneys Close - Violence/sexual assault

West Road – Knife crime (two reports)

Dorchester

Claudius Close - Violence/sexual assault

Grosvenor Road - Violence/sexual assault

Maud Road - Violence/sexual assault

Maumbury Road - Violence/sexual assault

Moraston Street (Poundbury) - Violence/sexual assault

Roberts Place - Violence/sexual assault

Gillingham

Le Neubourg Way - Violence/sexual assault

Matthews Place - Violence/sexual assault

Purns Mill Lane (Colesbrook) - Violence/sexual assault

Lyme Regis

Ozone Terrace - Violence/sexual assault (two reports)

Portland

Church Ope Road - Violence/sexual assault

Croft Road - Violence/sexual assault

Fortuneswell - Violence/sexual assault

Hamm Beach Road - Violence/sexual assault

Pennsylvania Road - Violence/sexual assault (two reports)

Portland Community Hospital - Violence/sexual assault

St Martins Road - Violence/sexual assault

Off Castletown - Violence/sexual assault

Victoria Road - Violence/sexual assault

Woolcombe Road - Violence/sexual assault (two reports)

Sherborne

Higher Cheap Street - Violence/sexual assault (two reports)

Vernalls Road - Violence/sexual assault

Sturminster Newton

Field Close - Violence/sexual assault

Selwood Close - Violence/sexual assault

Swanage

Cow Lane - Violence/sexual assault

Peveril Point Road - Knife crime

Shirley Close - Violence/sexual assault

Weymouth

A352 - Violence/sexual assault

Beverley Road - Violence/sexual assault

Darwin Close - Violence/sexual assault

Douglas Road - Violence/sexual assault

East Street - Violence/sexual assault

Glendinning Avenue - Violence/sexual assault

Green Lane - Violence/sexual assault

Lower St. Alban Street - Violence/sexual assault

Lymes Close - Violence/sexual assault

Marsh Road - Violence/sexual assault

Mill Lane - Violence/sexual assault

Nuthatch Close - Violence/sexual assault

Penny Street - Violence/sexual assault

Podington Meadows - Violence/sexual assault

Samphire Close - Violence/sexual assault

Stoke Road - Violence/sexual assault

The Bindells - Violence/sexual assault

Walpole Street - Violence/sexual assault

West Bay Crescent - Violence/sexual assault

Wool

Off Burton Road - Violence/sexual assault

Toll Gate - Violence/sexual assault

BCP Council, Bournemouth

Town centre

Westover Road - Violence/sexual assault

Hinton Road - Violence/sexual assault

Old Christchurch Road - Violence/sexual assault

Dalkeith Lane - Mugging 

Westcliff Road - Violence/sexual assault

Cambridge Road - Mugging

Lansdowne

Meyrick Road - Violence/sexual assault

Lansdowne Crescent - Violence/sexual assault

Lansdowne Mews - Violence/sexual assault

Stafford Road  -  Violence/sexual assault

Christchurch Road - Violence/sexual assault

Boscombe

Boscombe Spa Road - Violence/sexual assault

Christchurch Road - Violence/sexual assault

East Overcliff Drive - Mugging

Hawkwood Road- Violence/sexual assault

Palmerston Road - Mugging

Shelley Road East - Violence/sexual assault

Springbourne

St Clements Road - Knife crime

Victoria Place - Knife crime

Churchill Road - Knife crime

Cleaveland Road - Violence/sexual assault

Austin Close- Violence/sexual assault

Charminster and Winton

Charminster Road - Violence/sexual assault

Charminster Road - Violence/sexual assault

Malmesbury Park Road - Violence/sexual assault

Cardigan Road - Violence/sexual assault

Wimborne Road - Violence/sexual assault

Alma Road - Mugging

Privet Road - Mugging

Southbourne

Bolton Close - Violence/sexual assault

Southbourne Coast Road - Violence/Sexual assault

Crime statistics context

It is important to note that crime statistics alone do not tell the full story of a community, and different factors will contribute to crime levels.

Police forces have pointed out in the past that data about reports of crime can lack context.

For example, the way crime is recorded can make certain areas look more affected, because of a nearby nightlife or shoplifting hotspot.

And some calls to police may turn out to be false alarms.

Nevertheless publicly available information on reports of crime can be a useful way for people to get a feeling for where they live and take steps to feel safer.