Human Resources
Key actions for the police service in 2009/10
Improving efficiency and productivity by making better use of resources must become a core responsibility for all involved in policing.
What's New
Efficiency and Productivity Strategy for the Police Service 2008-11
On 28 January 2009, the Home Office - working with stakeholders including the Association of Police Authorities (APA) and Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) - published a refreshed version of the tripartite agreed efficiency and productivity strategy for the police service for 2008-11 which also incorporated a technical note and guidance on local policing plans. See Vernon Coaker's letter to Chief Constables and Chairs of Police Authorities.
The strategy sets out the overall target for efficiency and productivity improvements across the police service in England and Wales, and creates a framework for the service to make the improvements happen. Delivery of the overall target is the responsibility of the Home Office. The Green Paper - From The Neighbourhood To The National: Policing Our Communities Together (new window) - announced substantial changes to the performance management system for the police service. As a result the overall target for which the Home Office is responsible will no longer be split into individual centrally set efficiency and productivity targets for authorities and their forces. Police authorities will be expected to agree ambitious local targets and to hold their forces to account for delivering sufficient improvements.
This includes police constables, chief constables and commissioners; all staff, from PCSOs to finance directors, police authority chairs, members, chief executives and treasurers.
The Home Office, Association of Police Authorities (APA), and Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) must also treat it as a core responsibility. The National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) will play a key role. Forces and authorities will produce three-year local policing plans setting out how they will deliver their national and local priorities. The plans will need to explain how forces will make the necessary efficiency and productivity increases.
There is a lot of good work already happening across the service. We must encourage this good practice and make sure it spreads across the service. We must also ensure that we manage and share this knowledge, for the benefit of all 43 authorities and forces.
Strategy group
The Police Workforce, Efficiency and Finance Strategy Group is the national sponsor of the efficiency and productivity strategy. The group includes representatives from the Home Office, ACPO, APA, NPIA, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC), the Audit Commission and HM Treasury.
A tripartite police service strategy for 2004/05 to 2007/08 was agreed in 2004 and planning guidance was issued to support that strategy. Efficiency planning workshops facilitated by the Home Office have been held from 2005. Guidance and toolkits arising from the workshops have been supporting forces with their force efficiency plans.
The Audit Commission and the Wales Audit Office have assessed police use of resources (PURE) to identify whether police authorities and forces are achieving value for money, effective financial management and good standards of governance and accountability. This is the second year that the assessments have been carried out, and the latest report 'Police Use of Resources 2006/07 – Summary Results' is available from the Audit Commission website (new window).
The report of 2005/06 identified how authorities and forces could improve value for money. This year’s report indicates that some authorities and forces are starting to address these improvement areas by working collaboratively with other authorities and local partners, generating efficiency savings. We are sure that police authorities and forces will find the recommendations useful as they develop their efficiency and productivity plans.
Flanagan review of policing
Sir Ronnie Flanagan's review of policing has challenged the police service to manage its resources effectively. Work has already started in many areas, from creating a better workforce mix, creating shared services in HR and finance, a more efficient procurement practice, business process re-engineering and demand management.
WorkshopsFive regional efficiency and productivity workshops for police forces and authorities took place at London, Manchester, Wakefield, Gloucester and Ryton in April and May 2008. There was lively participation by delegates from every police authority and force. Presentations made by forces and authorities at the workshops are available to read in the Efficiency and Productivity Forum (new window).
What do you think?
Engaging with stakeholders across the police service will be essential in ensuring the efficiency and productivity strategy work is a success. We want to build effective partnerships with stakeholders, working together to share learning and exchange information. We would therefore be keen to have your comments on any efficiency, productivity and workforce issues, especially if you have evidence of good practice and innovation.
