Private firm to run police station

 

News in pictures
News in pictures
On Facebook
From the blogs

What can parents do to protect their children online?

Paul Woodward recently hit the headlines for speaking out against parents who allow their children t...

Palestinian hunger strike comes to an end but the status quo is not sustainable

Hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, being held without being charge and without trial by the Israeli ...

RadFem2012: Excluding on the basis of gender

As someone who is interested in feminism as a movement, I was pleased to find out about RadFem2012 -...

Chelsea Flower Show 2012: Inside Diarmuid Gavin’s magic pyramid

You've got to love Diarmuid Gavin. Whatever he does, it's usually bigger, bolder and madder than any...

A private security firm has signed a contract to build, design and help run a police station.

G4S has signed the deal, thought to be the first of its kind, with Lincolnshire Police Authority in a move which could save the force £28 million, the firm said.

It comes amid concerns from the Police Federation that public sector staff could have a sense of duty which the private sector may not.

The police station, based on a hub-and-spoke design with 30 custody cells, will also be extendable in the event of major incidents or anticipated peaks in arrests and is expected to account for a "major proportion" of the savings, G4S said.

The station will also house up to 120 operational police staff and cut running costs by saving £5 million over the next 10 years.

From April 1, and for at least the next 10 years, G4S Policing Support Services will also provide Lincolnshire Police with administrative and operational services including human resources, IT, fleet management, custody services and firearms licensing.

A so-called "shared services centre" in Lincolnshire will effectively enable the force to sell on these services to other forces, G4S said.

Kim Challis, group managing director of G4S Government and Outsourcing Services, said: "G4S is excited to be partnering with Lincolnshire Police in delivering this landmark programme, which is the first of its kind in the UK.

"Lincolnshire is leading the way in responding to the challenges of today's economic environment and this transformation project will mean many of the services provided by the police will now be delivered externally by specialists who can deliver greater savings and improve efficiency.

"We are particularly delighted to have the opportunity to implement many new innovations, such as our purpose-built Bridewell custody suites - the first of which will be completed within a year.

"This new police station will be the first, tangible demonstration of the benefits this partnership will bring to Lincolnshire.

"But others, such as the planned shared services centre, will place Lincolnshire at the heart of Britain's policing future, generating vital additional income as well as creating new jobs.

"This is an exciting time for Lincolnshire and we are proud to be part of it."

Barry Young, chairman of Lincolnshire Police Authority, said: "G4S shares our values and our ambition to maintain and improve services.

"It has the skills and the experience to help make a real difference to the way in which Lincolnshire is policed.

"By taking over a range of support functions, G4S will contribute to the force's aim of being able to put 97% of its warranted officers in frontline roles by April."

He went on: "Crucially, the new strategic partnership will also deliver significant infrastructure investment that will offset the budget reductions called for by the Government.

"I believe we are leading the way. We have demonstrated that it is possible to negotiate a complex agreement in a relatively short period of time that will provide benefits well into the future."

Simon Reed, vice-chairman of the Police Federation which represents rank-and-file officers in England and Wales, said: "There are many examples of private companies supporting and providing services to the police service.

"In order to guarantee the maximum resilience of the police service we need assurances that police staff are available to support officers especially when they are working long hours and under extreme pressure during major incidents.

"Our primary concern is the impact future private contracts will have on the flexibility of the police service. We would hope that officers are not left high and dry in times of national emergency.

"Police officers should not have to worry about inheriting additional workloads as a result of cuts or changes to the working conditions of support staff."

Unison warned it was a "dangerous experiment" that had not been proven to work in the police service.

Ben Priestly, the union's national officer, said: "This is far more than just taking over a police station - it will involve running the majority of police support services in Lincolnshire.

"We've yet to see a real business case, and past experience shows that savings are often over-promised and under-delivered."

He went on: "Public accountability will also take a hit. If local people have complaints about the service, they'll no longer be able to go to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

"Taxpayers' money will end up lining shareholders' pockets when they should be going towards giving the public better services.

"The coalition's cuts mean that other police authorities may be tempted to privatise services to deliver savings, but we would call on them not to do so.

"Bringing the private sector in is a dangerous experiment, and there's no proof that it will work for police services."

PA

Independent Comment
blog comments powered by Disqus
Career Services

Day In a Page

Jedward reach Eurovision final in Baku

Jedward reach Eurovision final

10 countries qualified for Saturday's final last night
Grace Dent: Personally, I'd fire bullying teens from a cannon and relocate the 'feral' kids to Chipping Norton

Grace Dent

Personally, I'd fire bullying teens from a cannon and relocate the 'feral' kids to Chipping Norton
Mike Sheridan: Confessions of an Ofsted inspector

Mike Sheridan: Confessions of an Ofsted inspector

They're hated by the teaching profession yet rarely defend themselves in public. So what's it like being an Ofsted inspector?
Manal al-Sharif: 'They just messed with the wrong woman'

Manal al-Sharif interview

She is the Saudi woman who became a symbol of female emancipation when she was filmed behind the wheel of a car. She tells Guy Adams of the persecution she has endured in her fight for equality – and why she will not be silenced
Zuckerberg loses friends on Wall Street as regulators probe $19bn slump

Zuckerberg loses friends on Wall St as regulators probe $19bn slump

Facebook investors rage at 18 per cent fall after some were not told of last-minute change to key projections
Could Mitt Romney's Bain Capital days cost him the US election?

The Bain of Romney's life?

It was the firm that made him his fortune - and by extension made possible his run for the White House. But now Mitt Romney's links to private equity company Bain Capital could render him unelectable
Auction site offers blood from Reagan assassination bid

Auction site offers blood from Reagan assassination bid

Ex-President's foundation threatens legal action to prevent Guernsey firm selling grisly souvenir
Blast me off, Scotty! Private spacecraft sends ashes of Star Trek actor into orbit

Blast me off, Scotty!

Private spacecraft sends ashes of Star Trek actor into orbit
A 2,400ft jump on to a pile of boxes with no parachute. What could go wrong...?

A 2,400ft jump on to a pile of boxes with no parachute. What could go wrong...?

Stuntman to leap from helicopter in wing suit that will slow his fall – to 65mph
James Van Der Beek: New doors open for Dawson

New doors open for Dawson

A comedy on E4 sees James Van Der Beek sending up his own teen-idol image
Le Touquet: I do like to be beside le seaside

I do like to be beside le seaside

With a century of glamour behind it, Le Touquet is a French coastal resort like no other
Postcards from the veg

Postcards from the veg

National Vegetarian Week is the perfect time to take a break – from meat
The 10 Best cycling events

The 10 Best cycling events

Great bike rides here and onwards into France
Didier Drogba: Striker's parting shot - my blood will stay blue

Didier Drogba interview

Striker's parting shot: my blood will stay blue
James Lawton: The Olympics is a place for serious football, not a Becks-Giggs sideshow

James Lawton

The Olympics is a place for serious football, not a Becks-Giggs sideshow