By Neil Hollins The development of wireless technology is bringing opportunities to do things in different ways. The author explains how mobile staff in local government can link directly into systems at base, process requests and get information. He also describes an implementation approach.

Despite strong government endorsement ‘flexible working’ has not yet permeated the public sector in any significant way. It offers the ability to shape work around the way people live their lives and brings considerable benefits in terms of staff morale and productivity.An online debate ‘Fit for Work’ sponsored by the Public Policy Forum will seek to find out why this is so. 

Following the launch of the Metropolitan Police Service’s Community Support Officer scheme, it is planned to recruit more than 1,000 officers across the UK. They will play a complementary role to police officers in tackling disorder and anti-social behaviour and carrying out routine patrols to increase visible policing and provide reassurance to the public.