Looking Local's 'Report It' App is now live in the Android Market. This latest release now means that 25% of the UK's population - an incredible 20million+ smartphone owners - can now download the Looking Local apps and use them to report local streetscene issues to their council anywhere in the UK.

In parallel with the iPhone version which launched earlier in 2011, Looking Local's Android app allows people to report local issues using the device capability - such as camera and mapping functionality - in just a few easy steps. Whether it is graffiti, potholes, abandoned vehicles, dumped rubbish, anti-social behaviour or street lighting issues, all reports go through to the relevant organisation for handling.

See the app and download it for free in the Android Market here

Mobile internet and smartphone apps are currently high on customer access agendas. Central and local government policies, guidance and a range of pilots all point to mobile web and apps being essential tools in the ongoing effort to shift people to self serve and improve customer access to gain efficiencies. The sheer numbers of people using smartphones, their higher propensity to surf the web, the popularity of apps and the improved device capabilities all adds to the argument around exploiting mobile and smartphone technology.

Steve Langrick from Kirklees Council - which owns Looking Local - says:

"Looking Local has been publishing public sector services on mobile phones for over five years and the iPhone app launched earlier this year was well received by our partners, so the natural next step was to develop the same functionality for Android. This now means that our public sector partners can use the apps to deliver their services without needing to incur expensive development costs or duplicate resource and effort."

In addition to the UK-wide 'Report It' functionality, the Looking Local apps allow smartphone users to access deeper services from over 125 local government, housing and health partners; services such as choice based lettings, council services, GP appointments and repeat prescription ordering, local listings and more. As per our other channels, services from national partners such as Jobcentre Plus, NHS Choices and Transport Direct are also available via the app.

The Looking Local app has been well received by the public:

'At last here is a pain free way to contact the council; great for finding local services and reporting issues to the council. (5*)'

'Excellent. Very easy to navigate and review local services. At last local government steps up! (5*)'

'Love it. Works great, council reacts fast, same day in most cases. (5*)'

Partners have also expressed their support of the move into smartphone app development which enhances the range of channels their services are now available on:

"App development is high on my wish list as something that adds huge value to our Looking Local fees as well as being something that adds value to us selling the concept of Looking Local to our new group partners."

"I'm aiming to promote the app with the focus on the ability to send in geo-tagged photos of dumped rubbish, graffiti, potholes etc. The ability to add pictures and to geo-tag the location of potholes, dumped rubbish etc. makes the app a more exciting prospect for many of our citizens"