Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire police merge ICT

The two forces said that moves to a joint ICT department will begin in December, with the initial potential to save £350,000 annually. They have estimated that efficiencies will increase substantially as work progresses, with savings of some £1.7m a year expected within five years. Steve Ottaway, director for the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire police collaboration programme, told GC News: "We are looking to converge our ICT systems over a five year period, which is in line with ISIS, the national police strategy. "It will be a bit like knitting fog for a while. Initially, we will be supporting a larger number of systems than we would like because we will have duplication of effort. But gradually we will rationalise these systems over five years." Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire are also joining their police pensions administration, and predict annual savings from this of around £105,000 starting in April 2011. Peter Conniff, chair of Bedfordshire Police Authority, said that the joint ICT and pensions functions will build on the success of other collaborative ventures, including joint dog, firearms support and major crime units. "The decision regarding ICT has been made mindful of ongoing work between all forces in the Eastern Region and will not preclude any further, wider collaboration in the future," he said. Stuart Nagler, chair of Hertfordshire Police Authority added: "Joint information and communication systems will improve the effectiveness of both forces, particularly for officers and staff on the front line."