Hampshire PEEL 2014

To what extent is the force efficient?

Hampshire Constabulary has developed its approach to understanding demand and risks. It has analysed demand for services and is aligning resources to respond better.

It is starting to identify through improved processes where police time can be saved without reducing the quality of service to the public. Despite making considerable savings and reductions in police officer and staff numbers, Hampshire has continued to reduce crime, and to improve victim satisfaction.

Hampshire Constabulary has faced a difficult challenge. Although its savings requirement is broadly in line with other forces, it is a low-cost force, spending less on policing, and employing fewer staff and police officers than other forces. This means it has less scope to make further savings. It has a strong track record of achieving savings and has plans in place to achieve most of the £10.6m requirement in 2014/15. The force’s operational change programme aims to achieve the anticipated £25m savings needed in 2015/16 and 2016/17. The force has looked at all areas of service and has well-developed plans to achieve considerable savings at the same time as improving effectiveness and protecting policing priorities.

Hampshire Constabulary has a strong track record of managing change to reduce costs while improving performance. It has reviewed all areas of service to the public and developed a change plan that will achieve all of the anticipated savings through to 2016/17. Cuts continue to be managed to protect neighbourhood policing; the force has among the highest proportion of officers and staff in frontline and visible roles in England and Wales. It has made good use of collaboration with other forces to enable it to reduce costs and provide effective services. It has an ambitious plan to change the way it uses its buildings and plans to save money while investing in improving its estate from the proceeds of selling surplus land and buildings.