Smaller forces may merge to save money

SMALLER police forces could have to merge in the face of further Government-led budget cuts, it has been warned.

Forces have also been told that they will have to co-operate much more closely with each other to save money.

The Association of Police and Crime Commissioners estimates up to £300 million could be saved within a few years if forces collaborate in buying equipment.
But informal or more formal mergers between some of the country’s smaller forces may be inevitable if they are to deal with another round of Government-led budget cuts, Sky News reported.

In response to the report, Chief Constable Sara Thornton (pictured), Chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, said: “We’ve dealt with cuts of 25% in Government grant in the last five years and are set for similar following the Comprehensive Spending Review in the Autumn.

“We’re likely to have lost around 70,000 police posts by 2020.  This means we have to make fundamental changes to the way we police otherwise we will fail in our service to the public and unacceptably stress our staff.

“Improving the way we procure equipment and services will save us some money, as will sharing more within and outside policing – so more collaboration between forces, within regions or through joint teams with other agencies like social services.

“But they won’t solve the problem alone.  We are working with others with a stake in policing to develop a medium term plan for how policing needs to transform and work with other parts of the public sector.

“With regard to mergers, most would agree that fewer forces is the best option, but if the desire is to maintain 43 then forces will need to collaborate more – between two forces, at a regional level or through joint teams with other agencies like social services.

“Collaboration is already happening: there are numerous examples of sharing staff, buildings and equipment, some with other organisations and some with other police forces. Two thirds of forces are already co-located with other organisations or have plans to do so.”

Police forces in England and Wales currently spend around £1.7 billion on equipment annually – 13% of their total budget. But the price for similar pieces of equipment can vary considerably between forces.

HM Inspector of Constabulary Mike Cunningham said: “The days of chief constables jealously guarding their own police forces have gone. They have to have gone.

“What chief constables have to be most concerned with now – and they are working on this the length and breadth of the country – is the provision of good, high-quality community safety services to the communities that they are paid to serve.”

See the report here: http://news.sky.com/story/1529893/budget-cuts-may-prompt-police-force-mergers.