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People will be given the right to petition for CCTV cameras, Labour has pledged, as the party unveils its plans for communities and law and order.Home Secretary Alan Johnson was joined at a press conference by Katie Piper, who was the victim of an acid attack.
She said her attackers may not have been caught and brought to justice if it had not been for the use of CCTV.
Mr Johnson also said Britain was "not broken", and violent crime had fallen, contrary to Conservative claims.
Mr Johnson accused opposition parties of opposing greater use of CCTV cameras on the basis of it forming part of a "surveillance society".
'Tough action'
Ms Piper, who had extensive surgery to rebuild her face, said: "I believe CCTV is an essential tool in today's day and age in ensuring the safety of the public.
"If you don't have anything to hide, you don't have anything to fear. Without CCTV my attackers could have walked free."
She said she is "comforted" now by the thought that CCTV cameras are in many places and would not live or work in an area without them.
Mr Johnson accused the Tories of "fundamental deceit" in the ongoing row about the use of crime statistics and said David Cameron was "running down Britain" by claiming society was "broken".
"He's used a series of tragic incidents to try and paint the worst possible picture of our society."
He said a Labour government would take "tough action" against problem families and give communities a greater say about how offenders are dealt with under the community payback scheme.
It would also keep short prison sentences and the DNA database, he said.This article is from the BBC News website. ? British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.