“How will Yorkshire collaboration save forces any money?”

THE chairman of South Yorkshire Police Federation has questioned how “collaboration” between the area’s forces is going to work as “no one understands how the new model is going to save any money”.

Neil Bowles (pictured) said since the Police and Crime Commissioner elections last year, the “foot has been on the brake” on collaboration between the three Yorkshire forces and Humberside Police. He is keen to see savings be made without officer jobs being lost.

“No one understands how the new model of collaboration is going to save any money – they want us to be lead forces,” said Mr Bowles. “But no one understands what that means.”

According to the South Yorkshire Police and Crime Plan 2013/17, from PCC Shaun Wright, “Regional collaboration in Yorkshire and the Humber began in 2005 in response to a proposed merger of forces by the Government. These plans were eventually scrapped, however the four Chief Constables and four Police Authorities of Humberside, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire came together with a view to progressing collaboration.

“I, along with the other three Commissioners, have inherited the Yorkshire and Humber collaborative arrangements, together we have initiated a review into the current regional programme to ensure the best value for money for the people in South Yorkshire.”

But Mr Bowles said under the new collaboration model regional policing groups – like in roads policing – were being scrapped, with officers returning to the “parent” forces to bolster numbers.

He said there was a new “lead forces” procurement arrangement in the area.

Mr Bowles added “South Yorkshire is lead on procurement for instance. Does that mean we are in charge of procurement or we just set policy? I do not see where the savings are coming from.”

According to West Yorkshire Police: “There are a number of areas of regional working that the region will monitor in the years ahead including procurement, where the four forces are adopting one regional function to reduce process costs, provide contract savings and align more closely to national initiatives all with a view to improving customer service.”

Mr Bowles concluded: “As long as it keeps officers jobs I do not mind which way it is done. We do know that savings need to be made. We do not want to have to go down the compulsory severance route – if it is agreed by the Police Arbitration Tribunal – by default.”