The Chair of Cleveland Police Authority has today warned that ‘radical measures’ are required if the Force is to continue its success in bringing down crime in the years ahead.
Councillor Dave McLuckie was speaking after Members of the Authority had agreed to consider the possibility of involving a private sector partner in delivering a wide range of support services.
The Authority’s move comes on the same day as the powerful House of Commons Home Affairs Committee has issued a report highlighting the success of Cleveland’s private sector partnership for delivery of custody and medical services and said that working with the private sector can ‘provide the police with expertise they may lack, value for money in service delivery and a source of up-front investment.’
Councillor McLuckie said making the move could potentially generate ‘tens of millions of pounds’ over the ten-year period of a partnership—savings which he said could be vital to protect jobs and front-line policing.
As well as information technology and some aspects of the Control Room operations originally included in the project, the two potential partners shortlisted by the Authority—Capgemini/Reliance and Steria—will be asked to come forward with proposals for other ‘back office’ activities.
In total this would involve between 450 and 500 staff and today Councillor McLuckie again stressed that protecting their interests would be a top priority—all staff affected would be employed under their current terms and conditions, pension and representation rights would be protected, there would be full and open access to opportunities in the partner organisation and both potential bidders would be required to agree to a long-term guarantee of no compulsory redundancies.
Said the Authority Chair “We have achieved a huge amount over recent years—highlighted only a few days ago by Home Office figures showing we had the highest reduction in crime in the country in the 12 months to September 2009. We are determined to ensure that we continue to build on our successes—delivering Neighbourhood Policing, responding to local people’s needs and concerns, and providing our officers with the tools they need to do the job.
“But the brutal fact is that policing, in common with every other part of the public service, is going to face huge financial pressures over the next few years with the prospect of very significant reductions in Government funding.
“This situation is not of our choice but we have to recognise the realities and unless we are able to continue modernising the way we operate—in other words doing things better and smarter—we could in a very short time be facing the prospect of having to consider big cuts...in both jobs and front-line policing.
“Whilst the involvement of a private sector partner in delivering support services would not solve all our potential financial difficulties but it could make a significant contribution—certainly tens of millions of pounds over the ten years we would expect the partnership to operate.
“Maximising the benefits we can achieve through partnership working is a vital part of modern policing—and in Cleveland we have already reaped significant benefits, including providing some of the best buildings and facilities in the country, releasing more officers for front-line operations, providing state-of-the-art mobile technology and increasing community support officer numbers.
“Indeed this has been highlighted today in the report on police funding published by the Home Affairs Committee in which they point to the fact that working with a private sector partner on custody and medical services released 39 police officers back to front-line duties
“Of course staff who would be potentially affected by the partnership we are currently considering will be concerned, but I repeat the assurances we have given throughout this process that they would be employed under their existing terms and conditions, pension rights would be protected and we will require a long-term guarantee from the shortlisted bidders of no compulsory redundancies.
“I think it’s fair to say that, given the economic difficulties which have affected so many businesses and organisations, those are arrangements which most people would regard as a pretty good deal.
“We will continue to work with the staff and their representatives over the proposals and I would stress that, as yet, no final decision has been taken and we will only agree to approve moving to a partnership if we are totally satisfied it will help us to project both our service to the public and the interests of our staff.”
As well as the direct benefits for the police authority, there could be the prospect of further investment in the local economy since both potential partners have indicated they would consider setting up major ‘service centres’ in the area.
Chief Constable of Cleveland Police Sean Price said “Our key priorities are to protect our people’s jobs and improve our services to the communities we serve. I believe that these proposals may give us the opportunity to do that in this difficult financial climate. We currently work in partnership with Reliance, who provide our custody services, which has increased employment and promotion opportunities with no compulsory redundancies.
“We know that by even moderate estimations, we could be facing budget cuts of between 5% and 10% in the coming years. In this type of environment, many organisations will be looking to reduce services and staff; indeed many already are. This is not the way I want us to go in Cleveland Police, and I believe that these proposals have the potential to protect our people’s future and provide the people of Cleveland with an ever better service.”
26-1-10