In the wake of a high-powered report on the need to improve value for money in the police service the Chair of Cleveland Police Authority says they could face the prospect of having to find savings of up to £30million a year by 2015.
The joint report prepared by the Home Office, together with Association of Police Authorities, the Association of Chief Police Officers, the National Policing Improvement Agency and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, sets out a range of measures which authorities and forces need to consider in order to meet a Government national target of delivering at least £545million in savings—and Councillor Dave McLuckie says that Cleveland is ‘ahead of the game in meeting the huge challenge of maintaining front-line services at the same time as resources are shrinking.’
He pointed to the proposals currently being considered by the Authority for involving a private sector partner in delivering ‘back office’ services—a move which could save tens of millions of pounds over a ten-year period—and said they were also examining opportunities for civilianising some support roles currently undertaken by police officers in order to maintain front-line numbers.
Said Councillor McLuckie “The Government’s Policing White Paper made clear that policing is in a new era where, if we are to maintain front-line services for the protection of the public, there needs to be, in the words of the joint report, ‘a fundamental examination of structures and processes.’
“I am pleased that in Cleveland we have been committed to that kind of approach for a number of years and it has delivered results—for example the Private Finance Initiative project means we have some of the best buildings and facilities in the country, the civilianising of custody and medical services which released more officers to the front-line, and the partnership with the private sector which has provided our officers on the beat with state-of-the-art mobile technology.
“The report lays stress on the need to examine back-office support services, increase the efficiency of systems and processes and look for value for money in delivering information technology. All of that is already underway in Cleveland.
“I do not want anybody to underestimate the scale of the challenge. By 2015, in the worst possible case, we could have to find savings of up to £30million a year—that is a very substantial amount against our current total budget of £145million.
“Salary costs amount to 80per cent of our spending so the simple answer would be to cut jobs—perhaps in excess of 200. We don’t want to be forced down that line which is why we are now considering the development of a partnership for delivering ‘back office services’—a move which we believe could make a big contribution to the savings we need and protect the interests of staff.
“Our priority remains the same as that of the communities we serve—maximising the number of officers available for front-line policing. The means looking at those support roles currently undertaken by officers and asking whether they could be carried out as effectively by civilian staff.
“This is not an easy time for anyone, but I believe that, by our long-standing commitment to constantly examining ways of improving the way we operate and adopting a positive approach to partnership working means we are in a strong position to best protect our services—and the people who deliver them.”
Chief Constable of Cleveland Sean Price said “It is a fact that we will have to make millions of pounds of savings in the coming years which is why we are looking at potential solutions that will protect our jobs and front-line services.
“Putting People First means that we are committed to delivering the best possible service to the people of Cleveland and protecting the interests of our staff.
“We have seen many organisations in the area reduce jobs and services and this is not a route we want to take. By looking at a partnership with a private sector organisation in this difficult financial climate we may well be able to save both jobs and money.”