Major Review of Hertfordshire Constabulary
A major review of the efficiency and effectiveness of Hertfordshire Constabulary is underway after it was agreed by the Police and Crime Commissioner and the Chief Constable as part of a continued ambition for excellence.
The joint Force Review Team is working to ensure the constabulary remains in a strong position to deliver the best public service in the coming years.
The newly established team, made up of constabulary officers and personnel plus staff from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, are looking at the whole structure of the organisation to ensure all areas are fit for purpose for modern day policing.
The in-depth review will determine the highest areas of demand and harm across the county both geographically and by crime type, and compared to its most similar force group. It will also highlight which areas and departments require more resources and those where possible savings can be made by working in different and innovative ways.
By exploring the current and expected policing demands over the next five years, it is also looking at the business requirement and how services can best respond to the public demand. Underpinning the review is Prevention First and ensuring that this approach informs and shapes the business model and considers how to prevent demand coming into the system and working effectively with partners.
Commissioner David Lloyd said: ‘This is a really important piece of work that I and the Chief Constable have asked to be undertaken. Whilst the performance of the force is good and is constantly monitored, this dedicated and comprehensive review is being conducted to ensure the constabulary is working in the most efficient and effective way possible.
‘Policing has changed a lot in the last five years, and will continue in the future, as different demands and crime types call for different approaches.
‘Responding to public demand from the people of Hertfordshire I have continued to increase investment in our police service for several years now. Alongside the government uplift programme, it means we now have more officers in Hertfordshire than ever before.
‘I want to make sure that the money is being spent well and spent wisely. This includes making sure the right people are in the right place to provide the best service for the public.
‘It is crucial that a public sector organisation undertakes prudent organisational and financial management steps such as this to ensure it prepares for the future.’
Chief Constable Charlie Hall said: ‘A dedicated review team has been established to really examine how we’re currently operating across all teams and departments, to ensure we are in the best possible position to deliver effectively to the public.
‘This is a positive step that will enable us to ensure our limited resources are aligned to meet demand now and in the future, that we’re taking advantage of new technologies and developing our workforce to best meet these challenges.
‘It is good business practice to conduct regular periodic reviews of how we are organised, ensuring we are well placed to deal with ever changing policing demands, within future funding envelopes.
‘I am sure this review will shine a light on the excellent and innovative work taking place across the constabulary, but I also know that there will be areas where we will likely revise our approach to ensure we are still more efficient and effective in the future. In doing so our Prevention First approach will be at the forefront of our minds.’
One of the statutory functions of a PCC is to ensure an efficient and effective police force. The review will assist the Police and Crime Commissioner to work with the Chief Constable to discharge this duty under the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act (PRSRA) 2011 to achieve this with scalable options for future financial budgets.
The review is due to be completed by next year when a phased set of approved recommendations are set to be implemented.