A NEW strategic alliance agreement for police in Somerset will help minimise the impact of cuts on frontline services, according to the Police and Crime Commissioner.

The Police and Crime Commissioners and Chief Constables of Avon and Somerset and Wiltshire met last week to thrash out the guidelines of the new partnership.

Leaders of the two forces announced at the end of January that they had decided to widen their existing collaborations to help achieve significant savings over the next five years.

At the meeting a number of points were agreed including a target revenue saving of £30million by 2018/19, while local policing will remain locally managed.

Sue Mountstevens, PCC for Avon and Somerset, said: “Having agreed to enter into an alliance back in January, we have now signed a legal framework which underpins this agreement.

“This important step demonstrates our shared desire to move forward with our plans and the benefits it will bring in delivering savings and help us minimise the impact of cuts on frontline policing.

“I’m pleased that we’ve also agreed the initial phase of work for a joint project team and which will help establish exactly what the alliance will look like in terms of the resources we’ll share.

“We remain committed to our local policing and supporting our communities, and this will underpin our work on the alliance.”

 

  •  Two independent Chief Constables will be accountable to two PCCs;
  •  They will develop a common approach to policing and, wherever possible, the two partners will carry out activities once across the combined area;
  •  Local policing will remain locally managed with local commanders for identified policing areas;
  •  A shared vision and values will be at the heart of the programme;
  •  Governance will be shared with each partner having an equal voice;
  •  A Strategic Alliance board will be jointly chaired by both PCCs and will include Chief Constables;
  •  An externally verified financial strategy will identify a fair way of sharing programme costs and savings;
  •   A target of £30million in revenue savings by 2018/19 with resources for local policing preserved as far as possible;
  •  Existing partnerships with councils or other forces to be fully considered;
  •   Consultation with staff and the public will go on throughout the programme to ensure that the service meets the needs of local communities whilst delivering value for money.