Hertfordshire Police Authority (HPA) established a strategic approach to collaboration with a neighbouring force. This resulted in cash and operational efficiency savings for both forces.
In November 2007, a joint Major Crimes Unit (MCU) was established incorporating Bedfordshire Policy Authority (BPA) officers together with the existing centralised MCU in Hertfordshire. This has so far resulted in:
- 100 per cent record of investigation and clear up of murder cases
- 25 life sentences since MCU established
- savings equivalent to 28 officers (£1.2 million), similar to HPA in 2006/07 when the centralised MCU was established;
- further annualised budget savings of £172,000 to HPA
- reduction in crime and increases in sanction detections, in part attributed to the reduction of staff abstraction from major crimes
The forces have collaborated further since 1 April 2009, providing savings and allowing the reprioritisation of resources. The areas where additional joint services have been developed are:
- Dog Unit (annual cashable efficiencies to HPA £164,000)
- Professional Standards (annual cashable efficiencies to HPA £202,000)
- Scientific Services (annual cash efficiencies to HPA £193,000)
- from July 2009, a joint Firearms unit was established (annual cashable savings to HPA £211,000)
Both forces recognise that collaboration can deliver efficiencies and improvements in performance. They have established a comprehensive governance structure provided by:
- monthly Programme Board made up of senior managers from both Forces and staff association representatives
- monthly reviews by a working group including members and CEOs from each Force
- quarterly reviews of progress by complete ACPO teams from each force
- formal approval of business cases by members of both authorities
There is commitment at the highest level in both forces to the principle of collaboration. The benefits could be financial or operational and different for each party, but both forces must benefit. A programme has been established to review other potential areas of collaboration to assist in the drive for efficiency and improvement in operational performance.