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| Police forces could 'save up to a third on kit' by agreeing common specifications | Police forces could 'save up to a third on kit' by agreeing common specifications |
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| The lack of collaboration between police forces in how they spend £1.7bn a year on uniforms, cars and other kit is leading to "mind-boggling" variations in specifications and prices paid, a Whitehall watchdog has warned. | The lack of collaboration between police forces in how they spend £1.7bn a year on uniforms, cars and other kit is leading to "mind-boggling" variations in specifications and prices paid, a Whitehall watchdog has warned. |
| The National Audit Office found a 400% difference in the prices paid for high-visibility jackets by the 43 forces in England and Wales, with the cheapest at £20 and the most expensive £100. | The National Audit Office found a 400% difference in the prices paid for high-visibility jackets by the 43 forces in England and Wales, with the cheapest at £20 and the most expensive £100. |
| The official auditors also found that forces had more than 20 different specifications for the high-visibility jackets they were buying. | The official auditors also found that forces had more than 20 different specifications for the high-visibility jackets they were buying. |
| They estimate that forces could save up to a third of their costs in these areas by agreeing a common specification such as that agreed by the prison service for its uniforms. | They estimate that forces could save up to a third of their costs in these areas by agreeing a common specification such as that agreed by the prison service for its uniforms. |
| "Some forces have set up regional or national approaches to purchase common goods and services, which many other forces take advantage of. However, common specifications for many types of goods and services do not exist, which reduces the scope for collaborative buying. | "Some forces have set up regional or national approaches to purchase common goods and services, which many other forces take advantage of. However, common specifications for many types of goods and services do not exist, which reduces the scope for collaborative buying. |
| "The NAO found at least nine separate specifications for each of five common types of equipment used by police officers, such as boots, body armour, high-visibility jackets, riot shields and handcuffs," says their report published on Tuesday. | "The NAO found at least nine separate specifications for each of five common types of equipment used by police officers, such as boots, body armour, high-visibility jackets, riot shields and handcuffs," says their report published on Tuesday. |
| Among the wide variations they found were: | Among the wide variations they found were: |
| • Body armour: 16 different specifications with price paid from £203 to £410. | • Body armour: 16 different specifications with price paid from £203 to £410. |
| • Riot shields: 16 different specifications with price paid from £31 to £136. | • Riot shields: 16 different specifications with price paid from £31 to £136. |
| • Standard-issue boots: 11 different specifications with price paid from £25 to £114. | • Standard-issue boots: 11 different specifications with price paid from £25 to £114. |
| • Standard-issue handcuffs: nine different specifications with price paid from £14 to £43. | • Standard-issue handcuffs: nine different specifications with price paid from £14 to £43. |
| • High-visibility jackets: 20 different specifications with price paid from £20 to £100. | • High-visibility jackets: 20 different specifications with price paid from £20 to £100. |
| The NAO says that faced with a £2bn reduction in Whitehall grants to the police, the Home Office has led a renewed effort to improve forces' buying policies and make savings. | The NAO says that faced with a £2bn reduction in Whitehall grants to the police, the Home Office has led a renewed effort to improve forces' buying policies and make savings. |
| "Many forces are now working with others to improve their buying power and make administrative savings, but most collaborations involve few forces and nearly half of all forces still have independent procurement teams," says the report. | "Many forces are now working with others to improve their buying power and make administrative savings, but most collaborations involve few forces and nearly half of all forces still have independent procurement teams," says the report. |
| The auditors add that the election of local police and crime commissioners last November with the power to opt out of national arrangements for buying police uniforms and kit has increased tensions. They say it has not yet been tested whether the Home Office national guidelines are legally enforceable. | The auditors add that the election of local police and crime commissioners last November with the power to opt out of national arrangements for buying police uniforms and kit has increased tensions. They say it has not yet been tested whether the Home Office national guidelines are legally enforceable. |
| Amyas Morse, head of the NAO, said it made sense for the police to examine the scope for cutting the cost of buying goods and services: "What is clear is that many opportunities for savings remain unexploited." | Amyas Morse, head of the NAO, said it made sense for the police to examine the scope for cutting the cost of buying goods and services: "What is clear is that many opportunities for savings remain unexploited." |
| Margaret Hodge, the chair of the Commons public accounts committee, added: "The huge range of definitions for basic items is mind-boggling. It is unbelievable that something as simple as a high-visibility jacket has 20 different specifications, with associated prices that differ by as much as £80. Instead of focusing money on tackling crime, police forces are wasting resources disagreeing over how many pockets they should have on their uniforms," she said. | Margaret Hodge, the chair of the Commons public accounts committee, added: "The huge range of definitions for basic items is mind-boggling. It is unbelievable that something as simple as a high-visibility jacket has 20 different specifications, with associated prices that differ by as much as £80. Instead of focusing money on tackling crime, police forces are wasting resources disagreeing over how many pockets they should have on their uniforms," she said. |
| The police minister, Damian Green, said the report recognised progress was being made: "The police are already required to buy vehicles, body armour and some IT through national agreements and we estimate forces will have saved £110m by March 2013 through better procurement. | The police minister, Damian Green, said the report recognised progress was being made: "The police are already required to buy vehicles, body armour and some IT through national agreements and we estimate forces will have saved £110m by March 2013 through better procurement. |
| "We recognise there is more that can be done. That is why we are implementing a central online marketplace for the police to buy goods and services, saving money by purchasing together and from standard catalogues," he said. | "We recognise there is more that can be done. That is why we are implementing a central online marketplace for the police to buy goods and services, saving money by purchasing together and from standard catalogues," he said. |
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