Avon and Somerset Constabulary - Collaboration – Working together to deliver improved services for the citizens of Avon and Somerset

Collaboration – Working together to deliver improved services for the citizens of Avon and Somerset

In recent years, policing has been subject to an increased number of demands, challenges and policy initiatives. In response, the Constabulary has turned to collaborative working by building on existing partnerships as well as examining further areas of work.

Chief Constable Colin Port said: "Faced with ever changing threats to our communities one of the toughest challenges for the police service today is to protect the public within increasingly tight financial constraints.

"Avon and Somerset Police was among the first in the country to recognise that in order to do this Forces cannot operate in isolation and so we have sought ways to work smarter and in collaboration.

"We have been heavily involved in collaborative working for a number of years and continue to strive to ensure public protection through national and local cross-force activities.

"We have been working closely with police forces in the South West and further afield as well as other national bodies such as the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), the Association of Police Authorities (APA), HM Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) and the Home Office.

"This has resulted in a series of formal and informal arrangements around aspects of protective services that benefit the citizens we serve.

"In addition, we believe that for officers to deliver a consistent first class policing service a revolution in our support services is required.

"This revolution has started and is being delivered here and now through cutting edge initiatives such as Southwest One and the forensic science services contract.

"Avon and Somerset Police will continue to explore further opportunities for collaboration."

View the key strategic themes that provide the background to the Force's approach to collaboration.

In March 2008, the Force signed up to the Southwest One joint venture, forming a partnership with IBM, Somerset County Council and Taunton Deane Borough Council, as a major step towards achieving these strategic objectives.

Southwest One involves improving the efficiency and effectiveness of a number of back office support functions as well as customer-facing facilities, combined with an ambitious programme of transformation projects. This has included the launch of new computer software for our finance, procurement and human resources fucntions.

Southwest One will result in significant savings for Avon and Somerset over the next ten years.

For more details about Southwest One visit:

The Avon and Somerset Police Authority website

This innovative collaborative approach to improving police services does not exist in isolation and sits alongside our active involvement in the South West Regional Collaboration Programme and numerous other strategic collaborations such as:

The force helicopter

A police diver

Crimestoppers logo

A forensics officer

Some police firearms officers

Counter Terrorism Unit – Formal collaboration across the SW to deal with the threat posed to the region by terrorist organisations. Over the last two years it has supported two major counter terrorism operations and a number of terrorist investigations in collaboration with the Security Service
The North West, South West and Wales Forensic Analytical Services Contract – ground-breaking strategic partnership founded by Avon and Somerset Constabulary to provide investigators in 14 Forces with improved forensic services improving efficiency, quality and cost effectiveness.
Specialist Tactic Unit – Joint Avon and Somerset and South Wales Police Unit tackling serious and organised crime.
Western Counties Air Operations Unit – partnership with Gloucestershire Police to provide helicopter air support
More about the Air Operations Unit
Intelligence Unit – national project to improve overall services to victims and enable us to share intelligence more effectively across the nation.
Major Crime Investigation - Collaboration with Wiltshire Police to combine resources to give us a greater reach and expertise to tackle modern crime and terrorism.
Mounted Section – As the only mounted section in the region, Avon and Somerset provides mutual aid as and in the last 12 months has done so for every force in the region.
More about the Mounted Section
Underwater Search Unit – Avon and Somerset lead a partnership with Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Dorset & Hampshire forces, providing diving services in return for specialist training.
Crimestoppers – national initiative to provide intelligence on all crime as well as nationwide 24/7 call handling
More about Crimestoppers
IMPACT – NPIA initiative to create Police National Database (PND) to share intelligence across UK forces, due to be launched at Avon and Somerset by the end of 2010.
More about IMPACT
Operation Liberal – a national initiative to share intelligence on distraction burglaries
Emergency Planning – multi agency partnership led by Avon and Somerset involving fire service, ambulance trust, NHS, HM Coastguard, Environment Agency and local authorities across the Force area to ensure local resilience for major incidents
More about Emergency Planning
Firearms Operations – regional collaboration on training and provision with Devon and Cornwall Constabulary providing bespoke training facilities for the region.
Hostage and Crisis Negotiation – Avon and Somerset provides staff, training & admin for SW and Channel Islands.
Kidnap and Extortion – ongoing initiative covering forces in SW region including Avon and Somerset Constabulary.
Mobile Surveillance - Avon and Somerset Constabulary provides mutual aid to forces in SW region.
Public Order Training - Avon and Somerset provides specialist training for forces in SW region<./li>
Operational Planning – working with forces in SW and Wales to conduct joint exercises and facilitate mutual aid.
Casualty Bureau – mutual aid for major incidents such as staff, equipment and facilities for forces in SW region and Wales.

There are also further collaborative initiatives currently under discussion, such as:

Learning and Development – pproposed regional collaboration for training including common purchasing and looking at the best use of resources in areas of common delivery
Firearms Training – proposed collaboration with Wiltshire and Gloucestershire to provide a single training facility.
Hi-Tech Crime Unit – proposed regional collaboration around serious and organised crime.
Technical Support Unit – proposed collaboration around serious and organised crime with forces in SW region and Wales.

We also work collaboratively with national and international partners on matters of security.

In addition, there are elements of police work that cannot be discussed here that involve Avon and Somerset Constabulary working in partnership with other forces both regionally and nationally.