New era of policing

West Midlands Police is entering a new era of policing as it begins a five year partnership with Accenture.

The force is calling the partnership a once in a generation opportunity to re-think policing.

Over the next six months Accenture will help design a new target operating model for the force, a blueprint for how it will work in 2020.

Drawing on Accenture’s global industry experience and extensive work with UK public and private sector clients, the 2020 blueprint will be developed with the force, partners and local communities involving extensive consultation.

Centred on four key foundations the partnership will seek to transform the way information is shared to provide a better service and protection for communities, develop joint delivery models with key local partners, provide wider choice in how people can access the police and support officers by giving them better access to technology.

Accenture will support the force in driving efficiencies and will deliver new digital capabilities. Early discussions have included work on developing systems where people will be able to report crimes online and track the progress of cases electronically.

The force and Accenture are also considering introducing new mobile devices to help officers spend more time on the street.

Chief Constable Chris Sims said: "At the core of this project is a desire to sustain and improve the quality of policing across the West Midlands.

"Never before have we taken on a project of this scale or magnitude. This ground breaking piece of work will look at the delivery of a more information led policing model.

"The delivery of policing services will remain very clearly with the elected Police and Crime Commissioner, exercised through myself as an operationally independent Chief Constable.

"This partnership with Accenture heralds a new model of public and private sector engagement that exists nowhere else in the policing world, capable of supporting our aim to be the best police force in the country and a leader of wider public sector change."

Chris Sims’ vision for radical improvement is set against a backdrop of continued significant financial challenge.

The force has to save in excess of £120m over the next five years and has already taken more than £100m from its budget and seen 2500 officer and staff posts cut.

Chris Sims comments: "We have fronted strongly the twin challenges of austerity and our own professional desire to improve policing. We have made significant savings and coped admirably as a smaller force. The fact we have seen crime fall by 18% is testament to that.

"However, even in a large strongly performing force we can see that future budget cuts and growing service expectations simply cannot be met without additional support.

The contract with Accenture is for an initial five year period with a breakpoint at the end of the first phase of work and an option to extend for a further three years.

The award of the contract follows a 12-month procurement process, governed by EU law.

Under the agreement Accenture will be paid only when it delivers joint outcomes, which are closely aligned to overall force performance, including budget savings.

Acting Police and Crime Commissioner Yvonne Mosquito said: "Our police officers and staff need the expertise that Accenture can bring in order to protect the future delivery of policing in a continued time of budgetary decline."

"It was Bob Jones’ ambition to seek improvements in technology and innovation for the force and entering into this partnership sees the start of that vision being fulfilled and his legacy live on.

"This partnership will allow the force to harness new technology and to draw on industry experience from across the world to deliver world class policing on our doorstep.

"I am fully supportive of Chris Sims’ work to deliver this ambitious and vital operational improvement programme."

Chief Constable Sims concludes: "Today police forces need the latest technologies to assist in the fight against crime and to help protect communities. A more efficient operating environment supported by the greater use of technology that Accenture can bring will help us deliver a better service to the public, reduce costs and maintain a strong visible presence on the street."

Speaking on the new contract Mark Lyons Accenture’s U.K. and Ireland managing director for Health & Public Service said: "Accenture will support WMP to deliver new technologies to officers to support their crime fighting efforts and reduce time spent on paperwork and administration. Through new streamlined processes and the greater use of technology across the force, officers will be able to minimize time spent in the office and maximize time spent on the streets, engaging with the public to fight crime and combat anti-social behaviour."

"Communities will also benefit from greater digital capabilities including the ability to report crimes, track case progress and engage with the force online and using social media channels. This program of change at WMP will ultimately mean an improved police service across the West Midlands." he added.