South West forces extend forensics collaboration

The five police forces in the South West of England have announced a forensics collaboration that will save them almost £2 million.

The current arrangement, which sees Avon and Somerset Constabulary, Devon and Cornwall Police, Gloucestershire Constabulary, Wiltshire Police and Dorset Police each having their own fingerprint and chemical centres, costs £10.8 million. The collaboration is expected to cut costs by almost one-fifth (£1.9 million)

The plans were ratified by a meeting of police and crime commissioners (PCCs) and chief constables last week and will see fingerprint services retained in Exeter and Portishead, with chemical laboratories remaining in Exeter and Gloucestershire

Devon and Cornwall PCC Tony Hogg said: “The decision follows several months of negotiation between the forces as part of their efforts to reduce budgets and increase efficiency for the future.

“It will mean forces sharing systems and services and adopting a similar process to inter-force systems already in place in other parts of the UK.

“The fact that Devon and Cornwall is the only force chosen to host two of the laboratories is testimony to the expertise and quality of those providing the forensics service for the peninsula.”

Dorset Chief Constable Debbie Simpson said it was an important development for regional collaboration and will help all five forces work towards a more efficient and effective forensic service provision.

“In the coming months we will engage with all forensic staff across the five force areas to ensure that the best possible service is provided in the South West while also identifying the required savings,” she added.

Collaboration on digital forensics and crime scene investigation is due to be examined next year.