THE chairman of South Yorkshire Police Federation has questioned how \u201ccollaboration\u201d between the area\u2019s forces is going to work as \u201cno one understands how the new model is going to save any money\u201d.<\/p>\n
Neil Bowles (pictured) said since the Police and Crime Commissioner elections last year, the \u201cfoot has been on the brake\u201d on collaboration between the three Yorkshire forces and Humberside Police. He is keen to see savings be made without officer jobs being lost.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo one understands how the new model of collaboration is going to save any money \u2013 they want us to be lead forces,\u201d said Mr Bowles. \u201cBut no one understands what that means.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to the South Yorkshire Police and Crime Plan 2013\/17, from PCC Shaun Wright, \u201cRegional 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\u00a0Yorkshire, South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire came together with a view to progressing collaboration.<\/p>\n
\u201cI, 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
But Mr Bowles said under the new collaboration model regional policing groups \u2013 like in roads policing \u2013 were being scrapped, with officers returning to the \u201cparent\u201d forces to bolster numbers.<\/p>\n
He said there was a new \u201clead forces\u201d procurement arrangement in the area.<\/p>\n
Mr Bowles added \u201cSouth 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to West Yorkshire Police: \u201cThere 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Bowles concluded: \u201cAs 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 \u2013 if it is agreed by the Police Arbitration Tribunal \u2013 by default.\u201d<\/p>\n
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