App reveals most dangerous places to walk in Brighton and Hove

The WalkSafe app uses police data to map the locations of reported crimes such as sexual assaults and muggings, then displays these as pins.

People can then use this information to choose a walking route.

The app's HomeSafe function also 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 an emergency contact your location details.

The popularity of the app has surged following the death of Sarah Everard.

Co-founder Emma Kay was motivated to make the app by her own experiences of harassment.

She said: "Our ultimate goal was, even if it saves one person from a difficult situation then it will all be worth it and that's really what drives us."

The WalkSafe app aims to provide people with information on crimes in their area so they can choose their walk home

What does the app's display mean?

The app shows red, black, blue and yellow dots to signify different crimes. A black dot on the map means a knife crime has been reported at that location, red dots indicate sexual assault and violence, a light blue dot means someone has reported feeling unsafe and a yellow dot shows there has been a reported mugging in an area.

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.

Most of the information used is collected from monthly police crime reports. However, the app also allows people to record when they "feel unsafe" in a certain area - displayed on the map as a light blue dot. The user can report anything from rowdy groups of people, drunks, if there is a police presence and even if the area is poorly lit.

Another feature allows people to tap the app every so often while they walk home, sending an alert to a loved one if they do not tap within the set time.

Users can also check in with others and let the app send an automatic notification to friends when they have reached their destination.

The WalkSafe website states: "We recommend checking the WalkSafe map regularly, using the knowledge we provide to help plan safer routes.

"The WalkSafe map visualises serious crime reports as icons. We use verified police data published each month by Police.UK.

"We can’t show all the police data at once as the map would be too cluttered to read. Instead, our algorithm cycles through the most recent month of police data, refreshing the map twice per week.

"This makes the data easier to read. It also allows our users to build a detailed understanding of crime patterns in their local area and on their regular routes. Using this knowledge, users can plan safer routes that avoid trouble hotspots.

"The WalkSafe app also scans the road ahead when our users are out and about. Users get alerts when they walk near areas that have seen reports of serious crime such as knife attacks, sexual assault, mugging and pickpocketing.

"No one can predict where the next crime will be. However, we believe being informed and staying alert is the key to staying safer."

A round-up of crimes reported in Brighton and Hove which are displayed on the map (as of April 6, 2021):

Brighton city centre and Kemp Town

• North Street - sexual assault and violence
• Royal Pavilion Gardens - knife crime
• King's Road - sexual assault and violence
• Stroudley Road - knife crime
• Newhaven Street - sexual assault and violence
• Lewes Road - sexual assault and violence
• Dyke Road - knife crime
• Stanford Avenue - knife crime
• Clifton Hill - sexual assault and violence
• Western Road - knife crime
• Montpelier Terrace - sexual assault and violence
• Western Terrace - knife crime
• Sillwood Street - knife crime and sexual assault and violence
• Middle Road - sexual assault and violence
• Sutherland Road - knife crime
• Eastern Road - sexual assault and violence

Hove

• Somerhill Road - knife crime
• Third Avenue - sexual assault and violence
• Fourth avenue - sexual assault and violence
• Church Road - knife crime
• Seafield Road - sexual assault and violence
• St Aubyn's - sexual assault and violence
• Kingsway - sexual assault and violence
• Denmark Mews - sexual assault and violence
• Goldstone Villas - sexual assault and violence
• Clarendon Road - knife crime
• Goldstone Crescent - knife crime
• The Spinney - sexual assault and violence
• King George VI Drive - knife crime
• Poynings Drive - sexual assault and violence
• Storrington Close - sexual assault and violence
• Sherbourne Close - sexual assault and violence
• Bellingham Crescent - sexual assault and violence
• Gladys Road - sexual assault and violence

Portslade

• Portland Road - knife crime
• Vale Road - sexual assault and violence
• Lincoln Road - sexual assault and violence
• Crest Way - sexual assault and violence
• Valley Road - sexual assault and violence
• Wickhurst Rise - sexual assault and violence
• College Close - sexual assault and violence

Whitehawk

• Peel Road - sexual assault and violence
• Henfield Close - sexual assault and violence
• Wadhurst Rise - sexual assault and violence
• The Meadway - sexual assault and violence
• Lower Chalvington Place - sexual assault and violence
• Cowfold Road - sexual assault and violence
• Byworth Close - sexual assault and violence
• Ninfield Place - sexual assault and violence
• Pulborough Close - knife crime
• Twineham Close - knife crime
• Swanborough Place - sexual assault and violence

Patcham

• Patchdean - sexual assault and violence
• Wilmington Parade - sexual assault and violence
• Warmdene Close - sexual assault and violence
• Kenmure Avenue - sexual assault and violence

Coldean

• The Charltons - sexual assault and violence
• The Byway - sexual assault and violence

Moulsecoomb and Bevendean

• Highway Close - knife crime
• Lambourne Close - knife crime
• Queensdown School Road - sexual assault and violence
• The Hyde - knife crime
• Kenilworth Close - knife crime
• Goodwood Way - sexual assault and violence
• Mooulsecoomb Way - knife crime
• Shortgate Road - sexual assault and violence
• Ringmer Drive - sexual assault and violence
• Chailey Road - sexual assault and violence

Woodingdean

• Helena Road - sexual assault and violence
• Falmer Gardens - sexual assault and violence
• Crescent Drive South - sexual assault and violence