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

The WalkSafe app 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.

How does the app work?

What the app looks like on your phone

What the app looks like on your phone

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 Salisbury and Wiltshire - a quick round-up:

Lindford Road - Violence/sexual assault

Capulet Road - Violence/sexual assault

Castle Road - Violence/sexual assault

Victoria Road - Violence/sexual assault

Scamell's Road - Violence/sexual assault

Churchill Way N (A36) - Violence/sexual assault

The Orchard - Violence/sexual assault

Churchill Way E (A36) - Knife crime

Rollestone Street - Violence/sexual assault

Griffins Court - Violence/sexual assault

Carmelite Way - Violence/sexual assault

Harvard Close - Violence/sexual assault

Odstock Road - Violence/sexual assault

Wiltshire Road - Violence/sexual assault

Norfolk Road - Violence/sexual assault

Essex Square - Violence/sexual assault

Elm Close - Violence/sexual assault

Winding Way - Violence/sexual assault

Pinewood Way - Knife crime

Ramleaze Drive - Violence/sexual assault

If you want to download the app for yourself, you can do so via your phone's app store.

MORE - The 10 crime hotspots in Salisbury city centre

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.

In the wake of Sarah Everard's murder, Wiltshire Police said the county was a safe place to live and that such shocking crimes were "incredibly rare".

But it also stressed officers were committed to tackling crime and helping people to feel safe.