POLICE and crime commissioner Katy Bourne spoke about the democratising opportunities of the digital era at an industry conference.

Ms Bourne, speaking at Digital Marketing Day 2014, at The Thistle Hotel, Brighton, said she wanted her relationship with the public to be “digital by default”.

Technology allowed officers to “tweet on the beat” and spend more time in the heart of the communities. Meanwhile the public have been empowered to hold the authorities to account through webcasts and live chats, she argued.

She said: “I will be seeking to create a stronger, more accessible relationship with the public that allows for a two–way flow of information and opinion, where citizens take an active role not only in shaping but in delivering local services.”