Police are urging members of the public to turn cyber snoops and shop criminals via the Internet.

The Crimebeat initiative - part of the Bradford Police website - is the first scheme of its kind in the country.

From today residents can go on-line to give information about drug dealers, car thieves and kerb crawlers operating across the district, run by a system called Netsnoop.

Electronic informants are asked to fill out an on-screen form listing the type of offence, location, date and other details.

The site will be checked daily by an officer at Toller Lane police station. Information will be downloaded on to the existing reporting system and remain confidential.

Eccleshill Divisional Commander, Chief Superintendent Stuart Hyde, has been involved in setting up the new site.

He said: "We specifically want to hear about people who steal from cars, break into people's homes, deal drugs and commit violent or racial crime.

"We have to be aware of modern technology. I think Crimebeat will be a useful additional tool as more people use e-mail and become confident in surfing the net.

"Its success will be reviewed on a monthly basis. We will see how it goes and may look at extending it if other police forces show an interest."

Supt Hyde said the site would be another way for people to pass on information. He stressed it had not been set up to record crime, and people using it would not be given a police reference number.

Users completing an on-screen form are asked to include their name, e-mail address and a contact telephone number.

The site carries a warning that anyone found to be sending malicious information will be investigated and could face prosecution.

The number of people surfing the net has spiralled recently. But the information superhighway has, until now, remained an untapped resource when it comes to passing on details to local police.

Crimebeat allows people to give information about all kinds of criminal activity in the Bradford Central, Eccleshill, Odsal, Toller Lane and Keighley policing divisions.

People visiting the website will also be able to tap into more than 60 pages of crime prevention information and advice, an introduction to the force and information about individual police divisions.

Topics covered include drugs, prostitution, Crimestoppers, community safety, domestic violence and Victim Support.

As well as listing other web pages set up by police forces across the country, the site links into the Telegraph & Argus web site and other local organisations.

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