RADICAL changes to secure local policing will see Derbyshire Constabulary sharing resources with four other forces in the region.
The move, made in a bid to cut costs by 25 per cent, was first mooted two years ago but the scheme has been driven forward as forces across the area strive to make spending cuts.
But the county’s police authority has been reassured that the plans will not see the force merging with Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Lincolnshire.
The scheme was given the green light at a police authority meeting where it was revealed that up to £1 million a year, for the past four years, has been ploughed into the East Midlands police collaboration scheme by the five forces.
Deputy Chief Constable Peter Goodman, head of the East Midlands Collaboration team, said: “We are talking about a ‘hybrid’ of policing. Some parts of policing would be delivered by one force for all the other forces.
“The majority of services would be provided internally by each of the different forces.
“The benefits and costs would be shared between the five forces and the savings are estimated to be 25 per cent over the next three years.
“We are also very close to putting together a skeleton model of how we can do all the crime investigation within the region.” During the meeting, Mr Goodman outlined seven areas where business plans were already being drawn up outlining how the forces would work together.
The areas included in phase one of the project are scientific support, professional standards, computer technology, contract management, learning and development, specialist crime, specialist operations and legal services.
Plans are still at an early stage with Mr Goodman describing them as ‘immature’.
He also stressed that it was not a merger of the five forces but a plan for some teams to work collaboratively and more cost effectively.
He added that he wanted to see regional heads of departments in place by the end of the year.
Leicestershire and Northamptonshire forces are already discussing a joint firearms unit.
