Cheshire Police Authority has signed a framework agreement with Capgemini UK plc which will enable any Police Force to achieve a comprehensive transformation of their IT services that support back-office policing activities. The transformation will increase efficiency and reduce costs of all back-office functions while protecting the frontline and prioritising the visibility and availability of policing to the public.
The framework agreement has potential significance for all the police forces in the United Kingdom since it has been developed in collaboration with the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) as a public sector solution available for other police forces. Using the framework will shorten and simplify the procurement process, thereby saving money and reducing the return on investment and benefits realisation time. The agreement is based on Capgemini’s t-Police (Transform Police) approach to transforming police support services and delivering rapid and predictable cost savings. Flexible options on technology hosting for example will enable Forces to develop shared solutions that addresses the Government’s drive to streamline provision of back office services.
The framework agreement has a four-year duration until December 2014, but specific services contracted under the agreement can be for up to ten years. The framework agreement covers the following functions; comprehensive ‘recruitment to retirement’ (HR), payroll, duty management (including rostering, time management and workforce planning), finance, procurement, performance management, logistics, asset management and fleet management. The Cheshire Police Authority’s solution is based on Oracle Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Crown Duty Management software, with Capgemini as prime contractor and systems integrator. Capgemini can provide the solution that best meets the needs of other Police Forces.
The Integrated Business Systems Solution is expected to generate savings for Cheshire Constabulary of at least £40 million over ten years.
Margaret Ollerenshaw Chairman of Cheshire Police Authority said: ‘We are clear that very substantial cost savings can be made in our back-office support functions which will help minimise the risk to our front-line services, and the Capgemini solution demonstrates in detail how those savings can be achieved. After an extensive competitive dialogue process, their proposals were demonstrated to be an excellent match for our own Transforming Business Services programme, and we look forward to working with them.’
John Cook, Capgemini Business Development Director, adds: ‘The savings Cheshire Police Authority will make from the framework agreement can be replicated in most other police forces and will play an important part in helping police authorities meet their budgetary constraints whilst protecting the front line.’
The award of the framework agreement to Capgemini follows a competitive dialogue procurement exercise that included participants from other leading IT companies. Reasons for Capgemini’s success include its strong track record in the UK police and criminal justice sector, its understanding of the work and objectives of Cheshire Police, its experience with police forces worldwide including for example New York Police Department, its award-winning work within the UK public sector, its convincing and detailed t-Police transformation plans and its competitive pricing.
