WORKING with other police forces can bring enormous benefits, such as increased resilience and economies of scale.

Hertfordshire Constabulary is continuing to develop opportunities to collaborate effectively with Bedfordshire and other forces and partners, and has already seen many successes.

In the context of the significant financial challenges that the Constabulary is currently facing, collaborative working is seen as a key option to achieving savings. 

Hertfordshire’s Chief Constable, Frank Whiteley, commented: “The overarching priority is to ensure that we deliver a policing service to communities in Hertfordshire that is as resilient, efficient and effective as possible, at a time when we are faced with considerable financial constraints like all other public services."

A joint Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit was set up in November 2007 – the first combined unit in the UK.  This unit now deals with all major crime across the two counties, providing the necessary resilience and increasing the breadth of knowledge and skills within the unit.  This initiative was followed by the establishment of a joint Dog Unit, Scientific Services Unit, Professional Standards Department, Firearms Support Unit and Civil Contingencies & Public Order Planning Unit. 

A dedicated joint programme team continues to explore opportunities for further collaborative work, predominantly between Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, building on these recent successes.  The team comprises officers and staff from both forces.

The Constabulary is also actively pursuing opportunities to collaborate with its statutory partners and a new Community Safety Unit in partnership with Hertfordshire County Council was recently opened. 

Stuart Nagler, Chair of Hertfordshire Police Authority, added: “Not all services are suitable for collaboration, for example neighbourhood policing must retain its very local focus.

However, we will explore all other options to develop joint services with Bedfordshire Police and other forces and partners, both locally and across the country.  The financial challenge is imminent so it will be important that work on further collaboration is developed with all urgency.”

Please click here to see the Eastern Region Collaboration Strategy (PDF)