Cambridgeshire PEEL 2015

Cambridgeshire Constabulary uses its resources well to meet the public demand on its services. It works hard to understand the most pressing threats and risks on its services and prioritises how it uses resources in order to protect people and fight crime.

Although the constabulary has improved its understanding of demand, it still needs to do more to make the most efficient use of police time, and more effectively plan for the future. There is not a full understanding of how demand may be reduced or redirected, or of how demand is changing over time.

Performance is well managed and the victim satisfaction rate with police services in Cambridgeshire is above average for England and Wales.

It is also working constructively to expand the range of activities that it provides in collaboration with Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, not only to save money but also to provide greater resilience and improved services. The collaboration programme has enabled new ways of working through information technology, improving efficiency and transforming the way services are provided to the public.

Cambridgeshire is the lead force for information technology on behalf of the tri-force collaboration and has made impressive progress in enabling police officers to work more efficiently using the latest mobile data technology.

The current workforce model is broadly aligned to the demands on its policing services, and matches the financial and organisational requirements. The constabulary is making use of mobile technology to improve the efficiency of frontline officers while maintaining the service it provides to the community.

Collaboration with other regional police forces, particularly joint working with Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, has further enhanced efficient working.

The constabulary has made efficiencies through a substantial reduction of senior ranks following the introduction of the new police operating model in 2012. This has protected the front line and brought police and local authority partners closer together, further increasing the opportunities for joint working.

Cambridgeshire Constabulary is planning for smaller than average cuts in police officer numbers over the next four years and anticipates that the current operating model will continue to be sustainable because of the added efficiencies from both extending collaboration and using technology to make best use of police resources.

The constabulary could do more to fully understand how demands for its services are likely to change over the next five years and how it may need to adapt the mix of skills in the workforce to respond.

Cambridgeshire Constabulary has a good track record in achieving savings while protecting frontline policing. It achieved its savings requirement and balanced the budget for the spending review period.

In addition it has made more savings than needed and has built up substantial financial reserves which it is planning to invest in future change and to support budget cuts in the short term until permanent savings are fully achieved.

The force has set a balanced budget for 2015/16, which includes the use of £0.39m of reserves. The force has reduced spending by £19.8m since the start of the spending review with below average cuts in police officer numbers. It has actively explored ways to improve efficiency in order to limit the impact of budget cuts on services.

The force works closely with the police and crime commissioner and resources are directed to priorities in the police and crime plan.

Plans for future savings are mostly well developed and the force is able to use its reserves to cover any funding gaps in the short term.

The collaboration with Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire is a pivotal element in the future savings beyond 2015/16, and there remains some uncertainty and risk around the delivery of these savings. However, Cambridgeshire Constabulary is aware of the risks and has developed contingency plans.