Reorganisation of police forces

Report: 10
Date: 06 December 2005
By: Chief Executive and Clerk

Summary

This paper proposes the way forward for the MPA submission, of the preferred option, to the Home Office on the review of the organisation of police forces in England and Wales.

A. Recommendation

That the Authority agrees to defer submission of the preferred option for reorganisation in London, from 23 December to 6 January 2006, so that the Co-ordination and Policing Committee can consider the final draft report.

B. Supporting information

Rationale for force reorganisation

1. Earlier this year the Minister for Policing asked HMIC to examine

• how policing could be made more effective through greater collaboration and, co-operation between forces;
• the impact of that on the criminal justice system; and
• the capabilities, capacities and functions that forces should be expected to deliver.

2. The resulting report, ‘Closing the Gap’, concluded that whilst size, scope and structure of forces were extremely important, the range of challenges and threats facing the police service, meant that the 43 force structure was no longer fit for purpose. Whilst some smaller forces do very well, and some larger forces less so, the conclusion is that below a certain size (4,000 officers or 6,000 officers and staff) there simply is insufficient critical mass to provide the necessary sustainable level of protective services. In the interests of the efficiency and effectiveness it has to change.

3. A model of ‘strategic forces’ is seen to offer the best business solution with the greatest potential, within reasonable time-scales, of improving protective services and providing better value for money. Structural change would require a considered, realistic view about the time scales in which it could be achieved but evidence from the private sector was that mature leadership made a significant difference in planning, initiating and achieving benefits from mergers.

4. Nothing is seen as incompatible between a move towards a more strategic organisation and a concentration on delivering more responsive neighbourhood policing. Strong neighbourhood policing is essential to connect with the public and inform the work of protective services. A force which is big enough to deliver protection but still small enough to identify with local communities was an attractive idea. Re-configuring for the better protection of, and connection with, the public, is seen as key element in the reform of policing.

Home Office response

5. After endorsing the report, the Home Secretary issued guidance on the nature of the work to take place for developing options for force restructuring.

6. Authorities and forces were required to submit a report to the Home Office by 28 October setting out a short-list of options for further examination in the next phase.

7. During November authorities and forces were to undertake a cost-benefit analysis of the short listed options and identify their preferred option.

8. Authorities and forces were then expected to further validate and refine their preferred option before submitting the final report to the Home Office by 23 December.

9. Ministers are due to make a decision on the proposals nationally early in January 2006 but it is acknowledged that the London position will be influenced by the concurrent Department for Transport national review of the British Transport Police and the Attorney-General’s national review of fraud, which reports in early 2006 and could impact heavily on the City of London Police. In any case the timetable for any change in structures involving the City or BTP will require primary legislation which will affect the timetable.

The initial submission

10. On 28 October the MPA and MPS made a joint initial submission. A copy was circulated to members but in summary it proposed the following options as being worthy of further exploration.

1. Strategic merger of MPS and the City of London Police
2. Collaboration between MPS and the City
3. Strategic merger of MPS and the London element of BTP (to include one or more elements of the Underground, railways stations and railway lines in London).

The Home Office response was as follows.

11. Option 1 meets the HMIC criteria on size of force and demonstrates the potential capacity to provide protective services to national standards without adverse impact on policing services at the neighbourhood level.

12. Option 2 would not meet the HMIC criteria on size of force in relation to the City of London but may demonstrate the potential capacity to provide protective services to national standards without adverse impact on policing services at the neighbourhood level. A compelling case could be made for this option.

13. Option 3 was not excluded but could be determined the Department for Transport review of the BTP nationally. Engagement with both the Department for Transport and British Transport Police was encouraged.

Cost-benefit analysis

14. The Home Office have provided a financial toolkit but the timescale is such that the potential range of financial savings or expenditure for each of the options is not available for consideration at the time of writing.

Final preferred option

15. The approach of the Authority has been to seek the best possible police service for all the people who work, visit or live in London, irrespective of who actually delivers that service. The Authority has consulted with the Greater London Authority, Transport for London, Greater London Authority, Department for Transport, British Transport Police Authority and City of London Police Authority. So far there is no consensus around proposals for any merger.

16. At the same time the MPS final report, setting out the evidence and rationale for the preferred option, has not yet been developed beyond the initial submission. As a result it would be imprudent for the Authority to support any final option without a clear appreciation of

• the exact nature of the problem inherent in the current arrangements
• the scale of the issues
• the benefits that will accrue
• the likely impact of the mechanics of merger on the MPS and performance, and
• the financial implications.

17. To remedy this all members have been invited to a briefing on 2 December. The views expressed at that briefing will be incorporated into the final draft of the report. Submission of the report to the Home Office will be deferred from 23 December to 6 January so that it can put before the Co-ordination and Policing Committee for approval. A copy of the report will go to the Department for Transport Review of British Transport Police.

C. Race and equality impact

There are no direct implications in this report but diversity issues will arise if any merger proceeds. In that event they will be identified and resolved as part of the merger and will be addressed in the reports that update the Authority on progress.

D. Financial implications

There are no direct implications in this report but financial issues will arise if any merger proceeds. In that event they will be addressed through Finance Committee.

E. Background papers

• MPA/MPS Initial Submission on Police Force Reorganisation
• 'Closing the Gap’, HMIC

F. Contact details

Report author: Keith Dickinson, MPA.

For more information contact:

MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18

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