A computer-aided mapping project aimed at measuring ‘crime and grime’ levels has been launched by Birmingham City Council and West Midlands Police. The mapping and neighbourhood management system monitors graffiti, fly-tipping and other environmental crimes and anti-social behaviour. Because the system monitors problems not just at police district level but down to wards and even street level, it helps neighbourhood managers to pin-point problem areas, target resources and tackle problems before they escalate.By providing up to date evidence of what is happening across the city the police and local authority together, backed by the local community can develop and constantly update their strategy to meet the crime and grime challenge.

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The ability of local councils to meet the 2005 deadline to provide a full range of electronic services is called into question by two reports. The Society of IT Management says that some authorities are reluctant to engage with the issue of authentication. In the report ‘Knock, Knock: who’s there? An overview of authentication for electronic service delivery’ the Society points out that councils need authentication systems so that they can be sure that people on the other end of electronic interactions, whether they are citizens, businesspersons, officers within their own or partner organization, are who they claim to be, and have permission to use the service, access the information, or make the transaction in question.The report describes the different methods used for authentiation including digital signatures and certificates, fingerprinting, voice recognition and smartcards.

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By Dan Williamson Councils are increasing spending to help them engage with young people. The author describes how the London Borough of Wandsworth put some of their youth services on-line and met the challenge to develop a site which appealed to parents, teachers, Connexions personal advisers, the local police authority, local business and the young people themselves.