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Surrey PEEL 2014

Efficiency

How well the force delivers value for money

Last updated 12/11/2014
Good

Surrey Police has made good progress, and, through its widening collaboration with Sussex Police, is well placed to manage further austerity in the future.

Surrey has identified that it needs to save £32.5m over the four years of the spending review. The force has a strong track record of achieving savings and for 2013/14 has overachieved its savings target. Surrey has clear plans in place to achieve all the £6.9m savings needed in 2014/15, which will mean that Surrey will meet its spending review challenge.

The force has a clear vision for the future and a well-established change programme to achieve this, with chief officers giving good oversight.

Surrey has an affordable and sustainable operating model, which has successfully supported it in achieving its savings early. It has a culture of reducing unnecessary costs at all levels and this is supported by sound financial management.

Collaborative working is a major part of the force’s future way of working, and the force has reduced its estates, which has resulted in considerable financial benefits.

The force continues to reduce crime, and victim satisfaction is high. HMIC’s assessment is that the force is achieving the required savings today while planning for the future.

Questions for Efficiency

1

To what extent is the force efficient?

Good

Demand has been assessed across many teams and areas as part of a number of reviews and change processes.

Surrey Police’s resource allocation process is clearly articulated and effective; a formal organisational model is being developed with its partners.

Crime is reducing and victim satisfaction is broadly in line with England and Wales. Access to services is assured by a variety of means; social media is used well.

 

2

To what extent is the force taking steps to ensure a secure financial position for the short and long term?

Good

Surrey Police has clear plans in place to achieve all the £6.9m savings needed in 2014/15.

The force has a strong track record of achieving savings and for 2013/14 has exceeded its savings target. The force is developing its financial assumptions and plans beyond this spending review. It is already working on identifying savings required for 2016/17, 2017/18 and 2018/19, although these are not fully developed.

3

To what extent has the force got an affordable way of providing policing?

Good

Surrey Police has a clear vision and a well-established change programme with chief officers giving good oversight.

Following the review of the local policing model, the force has restructured from a functional model to a geographic model, with chief superintendent commanders in each of the divisions providing clear accountability and control.

Collaboration is a major part of the force’s future way of working.

Despite having to make savings, the force is increasing police officer numbers, which is commendable.

Reduction of the force’s estates has resulted in considerable financial benefits.