Leicestershire PEEL 2016

Leicestershire Police has continued to build on the positive understanding of demand which HMIC commented on in our 2015 efficiency report. The force has used an academic model (the Cambridge harm index) to create a more nuanced understanding of where the most significant geographic areas for ‘high harm’ crimes are located. This mapping exercise is now complete and should help the force to identify areas where demand is less likely to be reported to the police.

The force is trying to establish what savings are being made by its local public sector partners. The force recognises that their budgets will be under particular pressure from 2018 onwards and that this may affect future funding for initiatives such as the local authority prevention scheme. While the force has undertaken some positive work in relation to understanding potential future areas of demand, it recognises that it still has more work to do in this area.

The force has strong processes in place to ensure that it is prioritising its resources to meet current demand. As a result of its rigorous, ongoing, outcome-based budgeting processes, the force has a well-developed understanding of the costs of services in relation to the quality and level of outcomes or results. When combined with a good understanding of its current demand, this has allowed the force to make pragmatic and quick decisions around re-allocating resource to high-priority areas.

HMIC found that the force has a limited understanding of its current workforce skills and capabilities but is seeking to improve its understanding through a skills audit of the workforce. This will be essential in order for the force to understand and develop the capabilities it needs for the future but also to help in meeting crucial current gaps in areas such as firearms policing and public protection. The force has previously undertaken robust processes to understand the consequences of its major change programme and recognises that it needs to continue to develop this approach to cover the recent implementation of new ICT systems.

Leicestershire Police has taken positive steps to develop credible future plans based on assumptions from some good information about future demand and anticipated workforce numbers. The force has considered how its future workforce and ICT capabilities could potentially integrate both internally and externally with its neighbouring forces and its approach to regional collaboration is commendable.

The force recognises the need for further savings to increase efficiency and improve on the level of services it provides. Its initial business case for increased collaborative work is ambitious in terms of scale and the potential benefits that could be realised. These plans are heavily dependent on continued support for the collaboration. While the force has prudently managed its financial position to be able to cope if these savings do not materialise, it may wish to consider developing additional options to make sure that it continues to be in a strong position to develop more efficient ways of working.