December 21, 2011 4.35 pm This story is over 153 months old

Police Authority outsource £200m contract to G4S

Landmark deal: £200m contract is set to change the face of policing in Lincolnshire and across the country.

By Daniel Ionescu Founder & Editor

Lincolnshire Police Authority on Wednesday selected G4S to provide a number of services to support front line policing.

The total value of the contract is in excess of £200 million over ten years and should enable the force to deliver further cost savings.

The partnership will deliver services such as crime management, central ticket office and collisions unit, as well as criminal justice unit and firearms licensing.

The government imposed in 2010 a 20% real terms cut in grant for all police authorities across the country, to be achieved by 2014/15.

In Lincolnshire that translates to £20.8 million in four years.

Lincolnshire Police Authority Chairman Barry Young and Chief Constable Richard Crompton said in a joint statement the deal “puts us firmly in the vanguard for change in the way British policing is delivered.

“The aim has been to create a model that will transform policing and its delivery – allowing the organisation space to begin to bridge the financial gap whilst maintaining, modernising and improving services.

“Over the period of the contract this new approach will make significant savings, whilst also providing investment in key areas like IT infrastructure.

“The subsequent streamlining of processes will free up officer time to concentrate on operational policing.

“The Lincolnshire model is the new benchmark, underpinning the future of local policing and investing in new technologies and services.

“If additional authorities decide to obtain services through the contract, they could be provided from Lincolnshire – potentially giving a boost to local employment.

“This is not a total solution and the Authority still faces significant financial challenges, but it does provide a solid foundation to secure quality and value for money policing of our communities in the future.”

John Shaw, managing director of G4S Police Support Services, said: “We’re delighted to have been selected to deliver this important contract, which is the first of its kind in the UK.

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

“We believe that the combination of Lincolnshire’s policing model and our expertise in delivering middle and back office functions will improve services and deliver the savings the Authority needs.”