WORKING with other police forces can bring enormous benefits, such as increased resilience and economies of scale. In the context of the significant financial challenges that the Constabulary is currently facing, collaborative working is seen as a key option to achieving savings.

Cambridgeshire Constabulary has recently formed a three-force Strategic Policing Alliance with Bedfordshire Police and Hertfordshire Constabulary. An ambitious programme of work is getting under way to deliver joint initiatives across a wide range of policing functions.

Functions associated with Public Protection/Protecting Vulnerable People will not be considered as part of this programme as they are seen as best being delivered in partnership with locally based agencies. Local policing (incident response, neighbourhood policing, volume crime investigation etc) is also outside the scope of collaboration as it needs to be tailored to local priorities and styles of delivery. As a result of this alliance the three forces will be best placed to maintain local policing services to meet the needs of the communities we serve.

Chief Constable Simon Parr commented: "To ensure a reduced budget will not negatively impact on police performance in Cambridgeshire, we must think differently while continuing to proactively tackle crime".

"We will aim to minimise the impact on performance of budget reductions by working in collaboration with Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire constabularies and with other local partners".

"This formal three-county collaborative venture will build on the existing Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Joint Collaboration Programme which has, over recent years, seen the development of a wide range of joint functions including a Major Crime Unit, Firearms Support Unit and Dog Unit".

"Cambridgeshire Constabulary is proactively, relentlessly and successfully targeting those who commit crime in Cambridgeshire. We will continue to do all we can to transfer the fear of crime from the public to offenders".

Ruth Rogers, Chair of Cambridgeshire Police Authority, added: "This collaboration programme will ensure specialist policing is provided cost effectively helping to ensure value for money across all areas of policing. We want to provide a first class police force in Cambridgeshire and working collaboratively is set to help us achieve that".

Read more information from Cambridgeshire Police Authority on collaboration.

All collaborative initiatives are underpinned by legal agreements under Section 23 of the Police Act 1996 between the respective police authorities and Chief Constables detailing governance arrangements. A joint Procurement function for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire will be established in April 2011, the Section 23 agreement having been agreed by Cambridgeshire Police Authority in November 2010.