A GROUND-breaking service providing people in Suffolk with information about crimes in their area will be suspended at the end of the month, it was announced today.

A GROUND-breaking service providing people in Suffolk with information about crimes in their area will be suspended at the end of the month, it was announced today.

Police Direct, which began in the west of the county and was rolled out county-wide at the beginning of this year, will be out of action for the foreseeable future after the technology supporting the system was shut down.

The system sends text messages, voice mails and e-mails to subscribers to inform them of crimes and policing initiatives in their area.

Its withdrawal also means people will not be able to report crime on-line via the Suffolk police website, as that facility relies on the same technology.

The system was developed in partnership with the Police Information Technology Organisation (PITO) but PITO's contract with the organisation providing the service has expired.

PITO has decided not to renew the service for financial reasons.

They are currently testing a new system which could come into play in the next few months.

For the full story see tomorrow's Evening Star.