Service revolution needed to rebuild public trust in police

The Government needs to better engage citizens and overhaul the procurement process to radically improve service delivery and restore public confidence in the police according to Northgate Information Solutions, the specialist services provider to the public sector and utilities markets.

In a response to the Policing Green Paper, From the neighbourhood to the national: policing our communities together, Northgate urges a fundamental shift towards the shared ‘purchase of solutions’ to support change management at a time when IT procurement remains disaggregated and costs are too high.

It argues that a ‘full service revolution’ can be achieved by developing ‘problem-solving partnerships’. These would engage with the public and empower them to interact in the fight against crime and improve the quality of life in their localities.

While a number of the recommendations made in the Green Paper are welcomed, Northgate is urging the Government to take further action, requiring:

•A new compact with the public which moves beyond the provision of information to the development of dynamic, interactive interfaces between citizens and the police.
•An understanding that crime and environmental and social nuisance must be tackled with a coordinated approach by local agencies acting together to deliver positive outcomes.
•A radical approach to procurement, in which police purchases are built around business process, re-engineering solutions informed by the experience of frontline services.
•A mature relationship with the private sector, promoting a problem-solving partnership approach and replacing the dominant mode of contractor/supplier relationship with one which places innovation at the heart of effective community safety services.

Ian Blackhurst, managing director of criminal justice and public safety at Northgate Public Services, said: “We warmly welcome the publication of the Green Paper, but believe that a bolder approach is needed – one which harnesses the power of society to drive forward positive change.

“New forms of collaboration between the public and the private and not-for-profit sectors are vital to promoting community safety and well-being.

“However, for this to happen mandating police forces to share procurement of IT systems will not in itself be the answer – technology and the procurement process must be harnessed to drive through a full service revolution.

“Problem-solving partnerships, which empower the public and encourage innovation in the private sector, could be a vital tool for the police in enhancing local accountability and could help to ensure that an evidence-based approach to preventing and tackling crime in the community is embraced.”