Monday 23rd December, 2013

Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire police forces will be sharing more policing services in the future in a bid to free up funding that can be invested in the frontline.

The three organisations will now pursue opportunities to collaborate fully on operational and organisational support functions which include finance, fleet, estates and facilities, legal, human resources, professional standards, training, ICT, firearms licensing, custody and crime recording.

Commenting on the new agreement, Cambridgeshire Police and Crime Commissioner Sir Graham Bright said: "Our collaboration efforts are focused on increasing the resilience of the service while protecting the frontline and making the savings required. This is a very positive step forward that cements our relationship as we look to continue the momentum."

Chief Constable Simon Parr said: "We continue to need to make savings, and in order to continue to deliver effective and efficient frontline policing to the public of Cambridgeshire, collaborating more of our services with our neighbouring forces is our best option.

"Realisation of the benefits from this new three-force collaboration programme will help address these challenges, maximise the return to the taxpayer and protect the delivery of frontline policing, particularly the local policing teams."