Tuesday, 31 July 2012

The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has started using the National Police Procurement Hub (NPPH), which is intended to save money by reducing the cost of purchases and improve buying power. This makes the MPS the latest force using the Hub. Kent and Suffolk have also recently gone live, and a further 23 forces are working towards being connected.

The National Police Procurement Hub (NPPH) is an on-line marketplace that provides the police service with the ability to select and purchase a range of approved goods and services.

To date, some 3,700 orders have been placed through the Hub at a value of over £3.2 million. Overall, there are over 900 suppliers on the Hub and over 600 of these have a catalogue.

Ian Currie, Head of Commercial at the NPIA, said “It’s great to see more and more forces using this hugely beneficial service. The police service is committed to delivering significant savings from better procurement. Therefore, it is absolutely vital that those charged with buying goods and services have fast and direct access to this simple online purchasing system to access best value products and services.”

Lee Tribe, Director of Procurement for MPS commented “The MPS have delivered a remarkable achievement in going live with the Hub in five months from a standing start.

He added, “Users within MPS have access to a greater variety of products and services and faster delivery times.”

 David Horne, the project’s Senior Responsible Owner, and former Chair of ACPO’s Procurement Portfolio said “In these financially challenging times it is essential that we take every opportunity to maintain services whilst reducing costs. We are therefore delighted that the Hub continues to be so well received by forces and suppliers.

 “The Hub is a big step forward for the Police Service which is helping forces deliver yet more savings and provide better support for the service’s operational requirements.”
The NPPH project forms part of the Information Systems Improvement Strategy (ISIS),a programme for the police service that is using IT to improve efficiency. This will release savings and deliver operational improvements across policing and into the wider criminal justice system.