e@SY Connects wins 'Best Example of Citizen Engagement’ at the
UK Public Sector Digital Awards
e@SY Connects, a South Yorkshire public sector partnership hosted by BMBC, has been awarded Winner of 'Best Example of Citizen Engagement’ and was also shortlisted within two other categories:
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Best Example of Digital Transformation
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Best Use of ICT (To Build A Fairer Society)
A key innovative project for the partnership is a Neighbourhood Watch solution that allows sensitive information to be communicated between the police and neighbourhood watch co-ordinators, using a secure communications mechanism, digital signatures and encryption.
Crucially, ‘protected organisations’ e.g. the police, could deal with those outside the ‘protected circle’ in safety using the latest technology. This increases the efficiency of police resources and the involvement and contribution of citizens, and also improves relations between the police authority and the community.
Citizens can report incidents and track resolution. They can act in a timelier manner to help reduce crime, extending and improving what can be achieved using finite police resources.
This same mechanism was also applied in the proof-of-concept Good Neighbours Scheme, also developed. The ability to increase trust by proving identity electronically over the Internet could also provide the framework for citizen and officer authorisation and authentication requirements, especially important for the personalisation, channel shift and safe-guarding agenda within public services.
This has led directly to the establishment of the Yorkshire Authentication Project consortium which is progressing funding options, including private sector investment, whose aim is to establish the first fully authenticated authorised public access system - supporting the Big Society. One of the aims of the project is to provide the standard for digital identities for electronic service access in Britain; a position that South Yorkshire, public and private sector organisations, could utilise and capitalise - encouraging more take up of digital and on-line services in South Yorkshire: Enabling it to be a true Digital Region.
About e@SY Connects
e@SY Connects is a partnership across South Yorkshire that brings together councils, health, emergency, voluntary groups, transport and investment agencies. Its aim is to provide simple, innovative access to information and services, particularly those in greatest need using ways everyone can use and understand.
About The UK Public Sector Digital Awards
The UK Public sector is one of the largest parts of our national economy and as such has been under enormous pressure over the past two years in the wake of the banking crisis and the global economic slowdown. 'More with less' has been the mantra echoing around public sector ICT for ever and a day, but it's never been truer than in 2011.
The UK Public Sector Digital Awards, formerly known as the e-Government National Awards, celebrate excellence in ICT enabled service delivery across all sectors of government. They recognise the vital role of ICT and the ICT professional across the public sector and commend their remarkable achievements at a time of remarkable pressure.
For all that is good in public sector ICT, the UK Public Sector Digital Awards are the ultimate benchmark.