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Private firm to run Lincolnshire Police station | Private firm to run Lincolnshire Police station |
(about 9 hours later) | |
A private security company has signed a deal to design, build and run a police station in Lincolnshire. | |
The agreement - between G4S and Lincolnshire Police - is thought to be the first of its kind in the UK. | The agreement - between G4S and Lincolnshire Police - is thought to be the first of its kind in the UK. |
As part of the deal, two-thirds of staff employed by the force would be transferred to the private sector. | As part of the deal, two-thirds of staff employed by the force would be transferred to the private sector. |
BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said it was arguably the most radical solution to the budget cuts facing police forces. | BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said it was arguably the most radical solution to the budget cuts facing police forces. |
It is thought the contract will save Lincolnshire at least £20m. | |
The Police Federation has raised concerns about the plan saying police force staff have an "enshrined sense of public duty which private employees may not". | |
Under the plan, 540 civilian workers at Lincolnshire Police will move across to G4S, from April, in what is thought to be the biggest single transfer of police staff to a private company. | |
The police authority will pay G4S £200m over 10 years to deliver a range of services, including human resources, finance and IT. | The police authority will pay G4S £200m over 10 years to deliver a range of services, including human resources, finance and IT. |
Other forces interested | |
The security firm will also build a large police station in the county, containing a two-storey office block and a custody suite with 30 cells. | |
Ten other police forces in the country have expressed interest in becoming "strategic partners", which would see some of their services out-sourced to the private security company. | Ten other police forces in the country have expressed interest in becoming "strategic partners", which would see some of their services out-sourced to the private security company. |
Police authority chairman Barry Young said: "By taking over a range of support functions, G4S will contribute to the force's aim of being able to put 97% of its warranted officers in frontline roles by April. | |
"Crucially, the new strategic partnership will also deliver significant infrastructure investment that will offset the budget reductions called for by the government. I believe we are leading the way." |