Proposals to bring in private companies to do more tasks formerly done by police officers could mean mass privatisation of policing, the rank and file police body has warned. Simon Reed, Vice-Chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said: “For many months now the Police Federation has warned that this government’s plan for policing has been the destruction of the finest police service in the world in order to open doors for private business.
“By imposing a budget cut of 20 percent on policing they ensured that chief officers faced a dilemma as to how best to balance the books if they wish to maintain the current level of service the public receives.
“However, this is an extremely dangerous road to take. The priority of private companies within policing will be profit and not people, and we must not forget, they are answerable to their shareholders and not to to the public we serve.
“This plan suggests that core policing roles such as police patrols and the power to detain, thus depriving people of their liberty, will be undertaken by private business employees. This would have catastrophic consequences for the high level of service the public rightly expect and currently receive. Not to mention issues of continuity, policing expertise, accountability and the risk that they could jeopardise the chance of successful investigations and convictions.
“This is not a solution. Chief officers must no longer bury their heads in the sand; they should instead stand up for what is right for the public and protect the police service from any further dismantling by this government.”
Surrey Police says that it is exploring the feasibility of working with the private sector to improve the delivery of services for the public, whilst at the same time make savings. The Force has entered a lengthy procurement process, with West Midlands Police, and is currently in the very early stages of discussions with the private sector.
Surrey’s Chief Constable, Lynne Owens said, “My job is to make sure Surrey stays safe, it will be police officers and staff that do that. Any suggestion that a private sector company will patrol the streets of Surrey is simply nonsense. It would be no more acceptable to the public than it would be to me.
“This is just an opportunity to see if the private sector can deliver some behind the scenes functions better and cheaper as part of a broader programme. We have to comply with a pretty cumbersome procurement process, hence the breadth of the documents that are prepared. We are surprised at any suggestions of secrecy. This is an open and transparent process and has been discussed publicly in Police Authority meetings. The Blue Light website, which details the possible contracts, is open to everyone to view.” The www.bluelight.gov.uk site was launched in 2004, to offer e-tendering solution available to emergency services. Some police authorities and fire and rescue services have signed up. You can register free at www.bluelight.gov.uk to receive email notification of new tender opportunities issued by member authorities.
Lynne Owens said: “The final decision will be for the Police Authority or Police & Crime Commissioner (PCC) but we cannot escape the changing financial climate. I must do my utmost to protect frontline policing services for the long-term. We will not change for changes sake. Our service to the Surrey public is my priority. I will retain all accountability for operational decision making.”
Peter Williams, Chairman of Surrey Police Authority added: I agree with everything the Chief Constable says. I am most surprised and disappointed at the way a necessarily widely drafted document to comply with EU Regulations has been interpreted as the foundation for rumours that are simply untrue and without foundation.”
By making better use of resources, Surrey Police says, it has the potential to make savings, which will help the force to protect frontline services in the long-term.
Meanwhile, according to the chiefs of police group ACPO; police forces face an enormous challenge to manage the impact of the cuts and maintain policing services. Investigations would always be managed by police officers but there are others who can contribute and take up functions which help protect the public and bring offenders to justice, commented the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO).
ACPO lead for workforce development, Chief Constable Peter Fahy, said:
“Police forces face an enormous challenge, particularly when you look at the cuts in the financial year 2013/14 and beyond. It is clear that only radical and fundamental change will allow forces to cope with this and maintain protection of the public. Politicians and the public have made it clear that they will not allow forces to merge and so economies of scale and efficiencies have to be sought elsewhere.
“The office of constable and the discretion and independence of the police officer is a fundamental safeguard for the public but does not mean that others cannot take up functions which help protect the public and bring offenders to justice. There are already private security staff patrolling areas of public space and managing major public events licensed by local authorities. Private staff monitor CCTV covering public space, private companies transport prisoners to and from court and store detectives detain shoplifters.
“Chief constables cannot ignore the financial crisis and the degree of change which is required. Police forces across the country will be watching this tendering process closely to examine where the limits of the involvement of other bodies in policing should lie and this will be overseen by police authorities and new elected police and crime commissioners. Chief officers need to ensure that highly trained and professional police officers are spending their time on activities which require their skills, expertise and values. While there are a number of tasks in a criminal investigation, such as gathering CCTV evidence or checking phone records, which do not necessarily need to be done by a police officer, the investigation itself would always be overseen by a police officer in much the same way as a doctor oversees treatment of a patient although other healthcare professionals carry out particular tasks.”
Police forces are already seeking to meet 20pc budget cuts by cutting back-office costs by working with neighbouring forces. A seminar at Skills for Security in Worcester, featured in the March issue of Professional Security, heard from West Mercia Police how that force is working with Warwickshire. Surrey, Sussex and Hampshire are another similar grouping, in effect a regionalising of forces for economic reasons that was suggested by the previous Labour Government in the mid-2000s but was resisted.
