Collaboration
In July 2006 the government made clear the expectation
for police forces and authorities to collaborate across all
areas of policing. In April 2007 the Essex and Kent
collaboration team was formed under the guidance of the deputy
chief constables of Essex and Kent.
A Joint Statutory Committee has been established and
this provides the legal structure for the team to carry out
its work.
Aims
The aim of the project is for both communities to benefit from
improved standards of policing and a better value for money
service.
Both Essex and Kent forces and authorities believe working
closely together will:
- deliver the highest possible quality service to the
community
- maximise the potential cost benefit that working together may
provide, and
- use resources more effectively and efficiently
There are four strands of the collaboration project, but all
have one essential aim - 'to deliver an improved policing service
to the public.'
1. Protective Services
The collaboration team has developed a joint risk
assessment across the two forces to target the areas
where collaborating will have the greatest benefit to provide
excellence in protective services.
2. Organisational Support Reviews
The
collaboration team is reviewing the organisational support of both
forces to see where business can be done differently to make
significant improvements in our service delivery and to identify
where efficiencies can be made.
3. Enablers
The project team has identified the required
enablers including Human Resources, Finance, Information
Technology, Project Management and Governance amongst others.
A comprehensive framework has been established to provide a
sound structure for the team to work to.
4. Opportunity Initiatives
Defined as “the
ability to deliver real value early”, opportunity
initiatives are arrived at by being mandated by chief
officers as a result of business insight or national direction, put
forward as an initiative by practitioners or managers, or as a
result of the budget review exercise which will take place under
the direction of the Directors of Finance and Administration.
Collaboration agreements
Essex and Kent police authorities and
forces have developed collaboration agreements in
three areas of business, the Serious Crime Directorate,
Procurement Services and the IT Directorate.
The police authority chairs and chief
constables signed these agreements, which are developed
in line with statutory guidance set out under section 23 of the
Policing and Crime Act 2009, on 30 September 2010.
For more details, and to read a summary of the agreements, click
on this link: Collaboration agreements
signed. For a copy of the full agreements, email collaboration@essex.pnn.police.uk
or write to Kent and Essex Collaboration Team, Essex Police HQ, PO
Box 2, Springfield, Essex CM2 6DA