RESIDENTS will soon be able to turn detective in a new high-tech scheme to tackle anti-social behaviour by using dashcam footage and smartphones.

The Together We Can initiative, launched by Dudley Council and the police, aims to make it easier for people to report crime using dashcam footage and smartphone videos.

Anti-social behaviour, fly tipping, dog fouling, graffiti, driving offences and fraud are some of the issues the initiative aims to tackle.

Councillor Gaye Partridge, cabinet member for communities, said: "We want to be at the forefront of making streets safer and communities stronger.

"New technology has given us an ideal opportunity to make it easier for people to report issues to us. That could be online including the uploading of photographs of fly-tipping, or someone’s dangerous driving from a dashboard camera.

"We are clear that we are not asking people to monitor others, however if by chance someone has captured footage on dashcams or smartphones, we want to make it easier for people to share that with us.”

Chief Superintendent Sally Bourner, Dudley police commander, added: "Digital channels provide a convenient and easy way for local people to connect with Dudley Council and West Midlands Police on a wide range of issues.

"Our Together We Can work reflects the fact that local people are the eyes and ears of our communities and this is another opportunity for them to tell us about the issues affecting their lives.”

Residents can report and upload council issues such as housing, fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour via www.fixmystreet.com