Police Reform
National Policing Improvement Agency
The National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) was created to support police forces improve the way they work. It is a police owned and led body, which has replaced national policing organisations such as the Police Information Technology Organisation (PITO) and Centrex, as well as functions that were carried out by the Home Office and the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO).
Background to the NPIA
The NPIA (new window) has its origins in the ACPO response to the government's November 2003 Green Paper which proposed an agency to support the implementation of national standards in policing. The government committed to establish the NPIA in the Home Office five-year strategic plan, published in July 2004, and the police reform White Paper Building Communities, Beating Crime in November 2004.
The NPIA supports the police in a number of ways:
- looks ahead to identify and plan for the future challenges to face policing
- defines the police service's capacity to implement change and informs the priority and sequence of change programmes
- finds and develops evidence-based policing good practice that works to support the service to ensure good practice is applied
- plays a lead role in ensuring that an agreed programme of key reforms takes place
- co-ordinates the future development, purchase and deployment of nationally-compatible systems and infrastructure, particularly information and communications technology
- designs, develops, deploys and quality assures nationally-compatible learning programmes
- helps the police service to recruit, train and develop its people and improve leadership at all levels
- ensures the workforce, processes, procurement and systems that support policing are as efficient and effective as possible
- uses research and analysis and specialist systems and advice to improve policing and provide a better service to the public
- ensures that police forces and police authorities are involved in every aspect of the agency’s work
The main focus of the NPIA's work is policing improvement in England and Wales, ensuring that a fair and equitable service is provided to diverse communities and staff. However it has a strong relationship with policing bodies in Scotland and Northern Ireland and collaborates with them on some initiatives.
How is the NPIA different?
The NPIA provides a number of benefits including improved co-ordination of major national projects previously managed by separate organisations. Rationalisation of previous policing agencies removes overlap and duplication of effort that has previously characterised policing improvement work at the national level. This improves the chances of bringing about successful business change in the police service and achieving efficiencies both nationally and at local force level.
Police buy-in is critical to the NPIA because the service is involved in all aspects of the agency's work from membership of the NPIA Board and programme boards to involvement of police business experts in delivering programmes.
The agency will develop a more professional business change capability for the service, forging a strong link between the delivery of information and communications technology support and overall business change programmes. ICT delivery will be just one enabler for improving the way forces work.
Monitoring success
Rigorous performance management will demonstrate the agency’s impact on policing improvement and demonstrate transparency and accountability. There will be a clear contract between the NPIA and local police forces to make sure that policing improvement initiatives succeed in delivering the desired business change.
The NPIA's focus is on delivering an improved service to the public. The agency will engage directly with members of the public and the police service to fully understand the impact of its work, in particular its effect on confidence in the service.
