Future Operating Model

Tender description

Surrey & Sussex Police (The Forces) are entering a period of substantial organisational change. National ‘uplift’ requirements are providing continued Police Officer growth, whilst the financial and economic environment necessitates the delivery of savings and efficiencies from other areas of our service. The landscape in which we police is also changing - crime is increasingly digitally enabled, trust and confidence in the service is being challenged, and we are working with partners to support communities in the aftermath of the pandemic. Both forces are facing funding gaps and the savings targets set in the Medium Term Financial Strategies (2022-26) represent approximately £17m for each force. With Police Officer numbers out of scope for change due to head-count targets, savings will need to be found primarily from non-pay budgets or staff budgets. Tactical savings have been identified for 21/22– but to deliver long-term efficiencies transformational plans will be required to ensure a sustainable model in future. A significant proportion of the forces’ services are delivered through collaboration, and a number of large departmental budgets are joint-force. However the forces have to deliver against individual Local Police and Crime Plans. Therefore, a key consideration will be the future shape of the forces’ enabling functions and the extent to which efficiencies need to come from joint enablement areas versus single force. Due consideration will have to be given to the responsibilities that each force has to local taxpayers, and the role of the Police and Crime Commissioners in setting local strategic direction. To deliver the level of savings required the forces will need to undertake a structured programme of change – potentially reaching across multiple business areas. The Forces are therefore seeking a suitably qualified and experienced contractor to provide support to this process.