Private security firm to replace West Midlands police...

[dutchman]

West Midlands and Surrey police offer £1.5bn contract under which private firms may investigate crime and detain suspects



Private companies could take responsibility for investigating crimes, patrolling neighbourhoods and even detaining suspects under a radical privatisation plan being put forward by two of the largest police forces in the country.

West Midlands and Surrey have invited bids from G4S and other major security companies on behalf of all forces across England and Wales to take over the delivery of a wide range of services previously carried out by the police.

The contract is the largest on police privatisation so far, with a potential value of £1.5bn over seven years, rising to a possible £3.5bn depending on how many other forces get involved.

This scale dwarfs the recent £200m contract between Lincolnshire police and G4S, under which half the force's civilian staff are to join the private security company, which will also build and run a police station for the first time.

The home secretary, Theresa May, who has imposed a 20% cut in Whitehall grants on forces, has said frontline policing can be protected by using the private sector to transform services provided to the public, but this is the first clear indication of what that will mean in practice. May said on Thursday that she hoped the "business partnership" programme would be in place next spring.

A 26-page "commercial in confidence" contract note seen by the Guardian has been sent to potential bidders to run all services that "can be legally delegated to the private sector". They do not include those that involve the power of arrest and the other duties of a sworn constable.

Companies who have applied through the Bluelight emergency services e-tendering website have been invited to a "bidders' conference" on 14 March, with an anticipated contract start date of next February.

The timetable for the programme means it will be subject to final sign-off by the first police and crime commissioner for the West Midlands after their election in November. The existing police authority only gave the go-ahead for the tendering stage last month after a "robust and forthright discussion" which ended with a rare 11-5 split vote.

The joint West Midlands/Surrey "transformation" programme, which has strong backing from the Home Office, looks set to completely redraw the accepted boundaries between public and private and the definition of frontline and back-office policing.

The programme has the potential to become the main vehicle for outsourcing police services in England and Wales. It has been pioneered by the West Midlands chief constable, Chris Sims, and Mark Rowley, who has just moved to the Metropolitan police from the post of Surrey chief constable. The pair lead on these matters for the Association of Chief Police Officers.

The breathtaking list of policing activities up for grabs includes investigating crimes, detaining suspects, developing cases, responding to and investigating incidents, supporting victims and witnesses, managing high-risk individuals, patrolling neighbourhoods, managing intelligence, managing engagement with the public, as well as more traditional back-office functions, such as managing forensics, providing legal services, managing the vehicle fleet, finance and human resources.

A West Midlands police authority spokesman said: "Combining with the business sector is aimed at totally transforming the way the force currently does business – improving the service provided to the public.

"The areas of service listed in this notice are deliberately broad to allow the force to explore the skills, expertise and solutions a partnership could bring." He said not all the activities listed would necessarily be included in the final scope of the contract, but if the force added other activities later a "new and costly procurement exercise" would be needed.

The contract notice does state that "bidders should note that not all these activities will necessarily be included in the final scope, and that each police force will select some activities from these areas where they see the best opportunities for transformation". But the police clearly want to test whether it is possible for new areas of policing to be provided by private companies.

The contract is being offered in two lots, one covering custody services and the second all other services. It envisages that only one company will be awarded the main contract, although a second may run custody services separately.

The West Midlands police are already planning to cut 2,764 police jobs over the next three years and this privatisation programme is not designed to meet the immediate budget gaps. The savings are expected to show after 2014.

Ben Priestley, Unison's national office for police and justice, which covers many police civilian staff, said it was alarmed by the programme: "Bringing the private sector into policing is a dangerous experiment with local safety and taxpayers' money," he said. "We are urging police authorities not to fall into the trap of thinking the private sector is the answer to the coalition's cuts. The fact that the Home Office is refusing to publish its business case – even under FOI [the Freedom of Information Act] – speaks for itself.

"Privatisation means that the police will be less accountable to the public. And people will no longer be able to go to the Independent Police Complaints Commission if they have a problem. When a critical incident happens, a force's ability to respond will be severely compromised. The only winners are private companies and shareholders who make profits at the expense of local services."

[dutchman]

G4S is also one the companies in this area involved in the government's controversial "Work Programme". So it's possible that future police work in Coventry is done by people living entirely on state benefits, including ex-prisoners!

[rebbonk]

Whilst I fully understand the economics of the situation, I see very little positive for the public in this little arrangement.

from me

[Spuffler]

Wide open to corruption, IMHO.

Also the issue of quality of evidence. Expensive court cases fail now with 'real' police presenting evidence; how much worse will it be with bargain-basement police?

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'Part-privatisation' police plans come under fire from Coventry MP

Radical plans to part-privatise the police in Coventry have prompted warnings from force staff and a city MP about “policing on the cheap”.

West Midlands police, which covers Coventry, has invited private security firms to bid to run a wide range of services possibly from next year – in conjunction with Surrey police.

But force chiefs have moved to reassure the Coventry public over future crime-fighting and police patrolling communities.

Coventry MP Jim Cunningham is backing concerns among unions including the Police Federation – which represents warranted police officers – of more job losses, with a private firm seeking profit for shareholders.

They warn “creeping privatisation” of a vital public service paid by taxpayers could harm crime-fighting in communities.


A year ago, chief constable Chris Sims told this newspaper private firms could be brought in to run some frontline operations, as well as backroom services.

Yesterday, assistant chief constable Marcus Beale said: “Are we going to have a beat officer for Wood End with some corporate logo?

“We still want that to be done by fully badged West Midlands police officers employed and paid for by us.

“The people walking up and down streets will be police officers, PCSOs or special constables.”

He said powers of arrest and detention would remain with warranted police officers.

But he said less skilled staff employed by private firms could, for example, guard a scene of crime in Coventry city centre, freeing up highly skilled police officers.

Pressed on whether PCSOs patrolling streets could be transferred to the private sector, he said: “I don’t think there is any chance that will happen. Basic patrol functions we would want to retain as West Midlands police. But there are conversations we need to have.”

Mr Beale added some work in investigations could go to private firms, including processing data such as CCTV and phone records.

But he insisted “the bulk” of any contract with a private firm, possibly from next year, would involve civilian staff and traditional back-office functions such as IT, buildings and fleet maintenance, manning custody suites, or answering phones in control centres.

He said the plans would bring savings to the taxpayer after 2015, by which time the West Midlands force is expected to lose 2,700 jobs under a massive £125million four-year cuts programme – following unprecedented 20 per cent government funding cuts.

But Coventry South Labour MP Jim Cunningham said: “This is the thin end of the wedge. Community support officers doing a number of neighbourhood duties in Coventry could be privatised.

“More people would lose their jobs – privatisation always leads to that – whether they be community support officers or IT experts.

“You could have a private company from a different country running a police force in this country.”

Mr Cunningham said union Unison representing some police civilian staff had complained to him they had not been consulted. He is due to meet with the chief constable on March 20.

West Midlands Police Federation chairman Ian Edwards said: “Our concern is it’s policing on the cheap, and the service to the public will suffer. It’s creeping privatisation.”

He warned of job losses, and added the force could be locked into an inflexible contract with a private firm for 10 years – which could prevent genuine accountability to the public in how police services are run.

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Police teams in Wyken, Lower Stoke and Stoke Aldermoor to merge

NEIGHBOURHOOD police teams covering three areas of Coventry have merged.

The team of officers covering Wyken has now joined with the team previously covering Lower Stoke and Stoke Aldermoor.

The announcement was made to about 30 residents attending Wyken Ward Forum at Caludon Castle School last week.

Sgt Phil Horton said: “The good bit is that some of the work we have been doing has been taken off us which means officers can spend time doing more neighbourhood focused stuff.

“That doesn’t mean we can get to you whenever you want but it does mean when we do get to you, we can do more.”

Wyken residents were also warned of an increasing number of “sneak-in” burglaries taking place.

A preamble to privatisation perhaps?

I love the way Sgt Horton spins this as if it's actually an 'improvement' in service as opposed to a cutback!

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Home Secretary Theresa May backs West Midlands Police "privatisation"

THE Home Secretary has praised West Midlands Police for “innovative” plans to collaborate with private businesses in a £1.5 billion deal.

Critics have condemned the proposals as “privatisation” of the police force, but Theresa May gave them her backing in the House of Commons.

She spoke out after West Midlands Police Chief Constable Chris Sims met representatives of 64 businesses in London to discuss how they could provide services to the police.

Surrey Police are also involved in the project, which will mean signing seven-year contracta with private sector partners.

Mrs May told MPs: “West Midlands and Surrey police forces are looking at innovative ways in which they can bring in the private sector to ensure that they are able to make the savings that need to be made while delivering the service that the public expect them to deliver.”

Labour MPs attacked the plans, with Jim Cunningham (Lab, Coventry South) asking: “Given that the home secretary blames everybody but herself for the deterioration in policing in the West Midlands, will she tell us how privatisation of certain parts of the police service will improve it, or who she is going to blame next?”

And Bob Ainsworth (Lab, Coventry North East) asked how West Midlands Police could agree a deal with the private sector when a new Police and Crime Commissioner is set to be elected on November 15, who will not have been involved in negotiations.

He said: “Can the home secretary tell us why the collaboration between West Midlands police and Surrey police on the long-term privatisation of large parts of the police service, including some core functions, is going ahead before the election of police and crime commissioners?”

Mrs May said: “Police forces have been looking at the matter for the past two years, and in advance of the election of police and crime commissioners, because frankly we could not wait to start the job of clearing up the mess that was left by the previous government in terms of the deficit.”

And she insisted: “The police service will remain a public service. The activities that require warranted officers will still be undertaken by warranted officers.”

Steve McCabe (Lab, Birmingham, Selly Oak) asked: “Given that some of the collaboration initiatives could have a significant influence on the level of the police precept, who will have the final say on the initiative: the commissioner or the police and crime panels?”

The home secretary told him: “It is of course for the police and crime commissioner to set the budget and the strategic plan for any police force.”

[Spuffler]

So will users of Coventry police services in future be issued with Tesco points? Or Nectar points, perhaps? "Bring your burglary case to us and receive an extra 100 points!" "Oh, you're a murder victim! Collect an extra 1000 Nectar points to spend on the funeral of your choice!"

How I wish I were young enough to emigrate somewhere with a future.....

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West Midlands Police 'risk' £5 million on private sector scheme

WEST Midlands Police have committed £5 million to controversial plans to bring in private sector partners – without knowing if the scheme will ever become a reality.

West Midlands Police is contributing to the pot along with the Surrey force and the Home Office.

But chief constable Chris Sims admitted the move was “a risk” as the initiative could be scrapped by a new commissioner, due to be elected later this year.

“We recognise there is a risk that a police and crime commissioner comes in with a completely different mandate and mindset,” Mr Sims told a committee of MPs.

The chief constable, who must make cuts of £126 million by 2014-15, was speaking to MPs about plans by West Midlands and Surrey to sign contracts worth £1.5 billion with private sector partners.

Critics have attacked the proposals as “privatisation” and 36 MPs have signed a Commons motion warning “privatisation of police services will threaten accountability within the service”.

Mr Sims has insisted private sector staff would not carry out front line duties the public would expect uniformed police officers to perform.

But a contract note sent to potential bidders set out activities they might be asked to deliver, which included: “Investigate crimes, detain suspects, manage incidents... patrol neighbourhoods... manage high risk individuals, disrupt criminal networks” and more.

Mr Sims confirmed £5 million had been allocated to simply trying to sign a deal.

Committee chairman, MP Keith Vaz, asked him: “At the end of the day you are going to have spent £5 million with the possibility no contracts are going to be signed, is that right?”

Mr Sims replied: “It is a possibility.”

Later, he admitted the police and crime commissioner, to be elected on November 15, would need to be convinced to sign off on the deal. West Midlands Police’s Chief Supt Phil Kay, programme director for business partnering, said the force would contribute up to £2 million “to support this work”.

“We are aware a police and crime commissioner will be elected in November,” he said.

“But until that time we will continue to work within the governance that is currently in place under the West Midlands Police Authority, to whom we are accountable.

“The financial contribution from the force and Police Authority to support this work is potentially up to £2 million.

“The process is subject to scrutiny and gateway reviews by the Police Authority before they hand over to the PCC later this year.”

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Police privatisation plans in the West Midlands put on hold

Plans to privatise some elements of policing in the West Midlands have been formally put on hold until July.

The decision was made as dozens of union members protested against the proposals outside the force headquarters in Birmingham.

West Midlands police authority is delaying them until after the Olympics and to allow public consultation.

It follows a move by Surrey Police last week to postpone its privatisation plans until the autumn.

In March, the West Midlands and Surrey forces invited bids for £1.5bn worth of services from private firms, on behalf of all forces.

Companies attending a bidders' conference in London were told work that could be contracted out included 999 call handling, prisoner transfer and patrolling neighbourhoods.

'Vehemently campaigning'

Call centre staff, scenes of crime officers and community support staff from the Unite union were among those protesting outside Lloyd House police headquarters.

The union said it welcomed the decision to put the plans on hold but said it regretted the whole process had not been halted altogether.

Peter Allenson from Unite said: "We expect West Midlands Police to hold a proper public consultation and not a PR exercise.

"The force needs to come clean on exactly what privatisation means for police services because this has huge ramifications for all 43 forces in England and Wales.

"We will be vehemently campaigning over the next few months to stop the privatisation of our police once and for all."

Chief Constable Chris Sims confirmed the West Midlands force's commitment to its privatisation programme.

He said: "Working with the private sector is a real opportunity to bring private sector solutions into policing to really transform the way we work, helping us to deliver improved services at lower cost.

"By working with a business partner we believe we will be able to improve the services we provide to the public and operate more effectively."

West Midlands and Surrey forces say they have already received 264 responses from companies for "middle and back office functions".