The Constabulary's 'E-cops' community e-mail scheme which was originated in East Chesterton during 2003 and further developed within the wards in the north area of the city has today been extended throughout the City and to South and East Cambridgeshire areas.

The scheme as you may know is intended to provide another medium to enable officers in Neighbourhood Policing Teams to keep in contact with their local communities. It will support existing groups as well as individuals.

It will enable information to be sent in fast time to street level or to whole wards at a touch of a button. This ability to be able to bespoke messages down to street level is what makes this scheme different to others currently available. It will also help us to maintain a dialogue in slow time through regular newsletters etc. and be extremely useful in helping to identify issues that are important in local communities.

We believe, based on the experiences to date, it has enormous potential to help with real engagement and I invite you to sign up for registration. We will of course be maintaining our existing communication channels for those who do not wish to register or do not have Internet access.

To register please visit the Force Website on www.cambs.police.uk and follow the E-cops' link. Between now and the 14th November we will be building up the database of registrations and the Chief Constable will launch it formally on Monday 7th November. Information will start to flow from Neighbourhood Policing Teams on the 14th November.