VIGILANT Ely residents have helped police to crack down on local crime by using email. Concerned residents have been in close contact with local officers using the e-cops scheme which allows residents to email officers and PCSOs in the area directly. U

VIGILANT Ely residents have helped police to crack down on local crime by using email.

Concerned residents have been in close contact with local officers using the 'e-cops' scheme which allows residents to email officers and PCSOs in the area directly.

Using the new system, residents were able to inform officers about a motorist in Ely who had become a cause for concern, and, on Wednesday (Oct 21) officers stopped the driver after overtaking through a set of double white lines.

Chief Constable Julie Spence said: "E-cops is a great intelligence tool and is a good way for the public to share important information with their local officers.

"This information will not be ignored and we will act on your concerns and I would urge anyone who wants to know more about police work in their neighbourhood or wants to raise a concern with their team to sign up to the scheme."

More than 16,000 people have signed up to Cambridgeshire Constabulary's e-cops scheme, with regular emails sent out from officers keeping people in touch with advice and appeals in their area.

It is one of the new schemes the force has introduced to help improve its work towards meeting the Policing Pledge after an inspection by HMIC earlier this year found that Cambirdgeshire Constabulary was failing to deliver consistently.

The scheme has been in place since 2003 after the local officer in Cambridge, wanted to find a way of keeping in touch with local residents. In the past six years the scheme has led to a number of raids, arrests and police action.