To boost public confidence in the criminal justice system and increase the visibility of police work in the communities, the Government has taken advice from the report Engaging Communities in Fighting Crime and the responses from the Policing Green Paper to give local communities more power in setting priorities for the safety of their local area. The announcement of millions in funding for projects such as volunteer Community Crime Fighters, Community Payback and Crime Mapping along with the setting up of dedicated neighbourhood policing teams in every community is a step towards increasing confidence and empowering communities. This national conference brought together local authority representatives with police, local criminal justice boards and crime reduction partnerships to discuss the implications of implementing these new policies.