A new mobile app, CrimeSiren, has launched with the aim of helping residents across England and Wales stay informed about crime in their area through real-time, location-based alerts and built-in safety features.
Developed by Lantern 6 Studios, the app brings together official crime reporting, live notifications and practical tools focused on awareness. The platform has been designed to prioritise clarity and accuracy, helping users understand what is happening locally without fuelling unnecessary alarm.
According to Nathan O’Donnell, founder of Lantern 6 Studios Ltd and the app’s developer, CrimeSiren was created to improve how crime information is presented and interpreted:
“A lot of services show crime data, but they don’t necessarily help people feel informed or safe. I also felt there was a lot of misinformation circulating in informal online groups, which can create fear without context. CrimeSiren was designed to present information plainly and accurately.”
Users can view recent crimes near their home or chosen locations via an interactive map, giving them a clear and factual overview of activity in their area. CrimeSiren is currently available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
In addition to displaying individual incidents, the app monitors patterns over time and issues alerts when crime categories such as burglary, car theft or violent offences increase locally. This allows users to recognise emerging trends rather than isolated reports.
Nathan noted that real-life events during development highlighted the relevance of CrimeSiren’s approach to situational awareness:
“I’ve had about three break-in attempts on my car while I’ve been building the app. I’ll never forget the day it snowed and I came out to find handprints all over the door handles.”
One of CrimeSiren’s standout features is its suspect tracking option. When a nearby crime occurs, users can choose to receive updates relating to the suspect involved in that incident.
The app does not show any personal or identifying information. Instead, it provides status updates — such as arrest, charge or release — using official data, helping users stay informed as cases progress.
CrimeSiren also includes a panic alert feature for moments when users feel unsafe. When activated, it starts an in-app group call with trusted contacts and shares the user’s live location on a map.
Nearby police stations are also displayed, allowing contacts to better understand the situation and offer appropriate support.
Users can additionally receive alerts when police aircraft are operating nearby. Helicopter activity is shown on an interactive map, giving context to visible or audible police presence.
Further features include access to local crime statistics, alerts when vehicle theft risk increases, and ongoing notifications linked to shifting crime patterns around the user’s location.
