By Vivienne Russell
26 January 2010
The police service needs to ‘radically rethink’ the way it provides back-office functions if it is to rise to the challenge posed by looming funding cuts, MPs have said.
A report from the home affairs select committee published today calls on the government to help the police to find new ways of maximising services and making savings. These might include the involvement of the private sector or mergers of forces.
Committee chair Keith Vaz said he was pleased that police forces were committed to maintaining visible frontline services.
‘However, there is only so much forces can do in cutting backroom services and other parts of their budgets, especially when they are being hamstrung by uncertain funding,’ he said.
‘Obviously these are difficult times financially. But the government and the various national police authorities must provide serious support for innovations – such as collaboration, mergers and using the private sector – and, where necessary, invest properly in the measures that can bring long-term efficiency savings.’
The committee notes that one of the barriers forces face is the distribution of the police national grant, which gives 50% of forces less money than they are allocated under the funding formula.
The MPs recommend a review of the entire funding system as well as a removal of the cap on council tax rises.
Vaz said: ‘Forces need more say in raising their own funding. They are, after all, providing a local service at local level and are best placed to determine where and what resources are needed.’
Police minister David Hanson said: 'We must ensure we get value for money and that is why we set out savings opportunities for the police service in the white paper. By working smarter and working together forces can deliver even more for the money they receive.'
26 January 2010
The police service needs to ‘radically rethink’ the way it provides back-office functions if it is to rise to the challenge posed by looming funding cuts, MPs have said.
A report from the home affairs select committee published today calls on the government to help the police to find new ways of maximising services and making savings. These might include the involvement of the private sector or mergers of forces.
Committee chair Keith Vaz said he was pleased that police forces were committed to maintaining visible frontline services.
‘However, there is only so much forces can do in cutting backroom services and other parts of their budgets, especially when they are being hamstrung by uncertain funding,’ he said.
‘Obviously these are difficult times financially. But the government and the various national police authorities must provide serious support for innovations – such as collaboration, mergers and using the private sector – and, where necessary, invest properly in the measures that can bring long-term efficiency savings.’
The committee notes that one of the barriers forces face is the distribution of the police national grant, which gives 50% of forces less money than they are allocated under the funding formula.
The MPs recommend a review of the entire funding system as well as a removal of the cap on council tax rises.
Vaz said: ‘Forces need more say in raising their own funding. They are, after all, providing a local service at local level and are best placed to determine where and what resources are needed.’
Police minister David Hanson said: 'We must ensure we get value for money and that is why we set out savings opportunities for the police service in the white paper. By working smarter and working together forces can deliver even more for the money they receive.'
