Lincolnshire decides not to extend G4S managed services contract as PCC looks at other options
Lincolnshire’s police and crime commissioner has taken the decision not to extend the ten-year contract with G4S as he looks at “new opportunities” for the future delivery of services.
Instead, Marc Jones says he will now consider “a variety of other options”, including moving some services back in-house, arranging contracts with individual commercial suppliers and the possibility of creating a wholly-owned subsidiary to run some functions.
G4S began providing managed services for Lincolnshire Police in April 2012 in a contractual arrangement worth more than £22 million a year.
However, Mr Jones said yesterday (November 10) that he will not be extending the contract for a further five years beyond the initially agreed timescale – which expires on March 31, 2022.
G4S currently employs around 580 people providing services for Lincolnshire Police, which include the force control room, firearms licensing, the Crime Management Bureau, custody detention officers, IT and estates management.
Mr Jones said a transition team will now be put in place as Lincolnshire Police works to ensure the plans for the future delivery of services “will meet the needs of the people of Lincolnshire and the force’s budget constraints”.
He now asked the force to look at a variety of options, including moving some services back in-house, collaboration with other forces or public sector organisations and awarding contracts to commercial suppliers.
Mr Jones said the possibility of creating a wholly owned subsidiary to run some services will also be examined and a one-year extension to the G4S contract may be considered to give time to create alternative arrangements.
Lincolnshire Police and G4S will assess the plans for future service delivery in relation to the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations (TUPE) and ensure that they are compliant.
Mr Jones thanked G4S for “a decade of committed and valued service” for the people of Lincolnshire but said his decision was based purely on providing the best possible affordable police service for the communities of Lincolnshire.
“My decision is absolutely no reflection on the value of the services G4S has provided to Lincolnshire Police or the committed and hard-working individuals who have worked for the company on behalf of the county,” he said.
“G4S and its staff have provided a decade of committed and valued services.
“But as part of my drive to provide the most effective and efficient modern policing service in the UK it is vital that we are fleet of foot in how we deploy staff and develop services and it is imperative we do so within our budget.
“The pace of change in technology, criminal activity and demand for services is much quicker than it was even a decade ago and it is crucial that we have a force able to quickly respond to these changes.”
Mr Jones added: “I am confident the decision will provide us new opportunities to improve the services we provide for the people of Lincolnshire, ensure we invest as much as possible in the front line and continue to keep out communities safe.”
