Among the plans outlined in the policy document Building Britain's Future are that from September members of the public will have electronic access to a range of information, updated monthly, on crime, policing and sentencing for their area. This will include a 'scorecard' outlining the performance of their local police.
The policy document also says there will be online petitions and voting on neighbourhood policing priorities, how criminals' assets should be spent and other local crime issues.
It also makes clear that, despite warnings that the extensive use of CCTV is creating a 'surveillance society' it will continue to play an important role in anti-crime measures. Following the provision of more than £170m of government funding for some 700 CCTV schemes over the past decade, the focus will shift to improving the effectiveness of surveillance systems through better training of operators and inviting members of the public to provide feedback.
Communications regulator Ofcom's powers will be reviewed to reassess the balance between encouraging investment and delivering competition in communications infrastructure. A £150m innovation fund will support technology industries, with the aim of encouraging up to £1bn of private sector investment.
Lanching the document on 29 June 2009, Brown told the Commons: "In this plan we are determined to take forward the progressive reforms of the last decade. Our task after three terms in office is not merely to defend Britain's achievements over the last decade but to work even harder so as to meet new challenges with the same sense of conviction."
