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| Police chiefs are looking to privatise key sections of the Avon and Somerset force in a controversial deal which could see the jobs of up to 500 civilian workers transferred to a multi- national firm. The Evening Post has learned that up to a quarter of the constabulary's backroom staff could be affected by the deal - the first of its kind in the UK. A contractor would take over the running of the force's finances, the hiring and firing of police officers - and could even run front offices in police stations. If set in motion, the force would link up with a programme called Improving Services in Somerset (ISiS), which is being considered by Somerset County Council and Taunton Deane Borough Council. Avon and Somerset police has expressed an interested in joining ISiS. Three firms - BT, Capita and IBM - have placed bids to run the public-private partnership. Chief Constable Colin Port's wife works for Somerset County Council as a consultant for the ISiS programme. Mr Port has requested that we do not name his wife for security reasons. She set in motion a similar scheme when she previously worked for Suffolk County Council. If the force did get involved, staff working in a number of departments could be seconded to a private company, a move which has been met with unease by civilian police staff union, Unison. Senior regional officer Janet Woodcock said: "This would be the first time in the UK that a police force has privatised jobs in this way. It could affect a number of departments, including finance, human resources, procurement, ICT [information, communication technology] and estates. "There is also a possibility that the running of front offices in police stations could be taken over by the joint venture company. We could be in a situation where people are reporting crimes to staff not employed by the police. "As yet, there is no clarity on what will happen to jobs. It is not known if they will be seconded or if some will be made redundant and forced to reapply. "At this stage there are a lot of large unknown factors. However, we fear this project could potentially end up costing the force more than it saves." The plan to sign up to a public- private partnership was put on hold when the Home Office announced a move to merge neighbouring police forces. Since that scheme was dropped, Avon and Somerset police's potential link-up with a private organisation is now back on the agenda. The force could sign up to the scheme within a month. The Evening Post established that the force was considering this controversial move after investigating why it had chartered a plane to take six senior officials on a fact-finding mission to Suffolk. For eight months, the Evening Post has been probing this use of taxpayers' money. At first, we asked the force if it had hired a jet, which it denied. However, we have now obtained a document which shows a twin-propeller plane was hired by Avon and Somerset police for a return trip between Bristol International Airport and Wattisham Airport, in Suffolk. Using the Freedom of Information Act, the Post has learned that the trip cost in excess of £2,600. On board were Mr Port, Deputy Chief Constable Stephen Otter, director of finance Jeremy Fox, police authority chairwoman Moira Hamlin and two other authority members. No figures have yet been published showing how much the force plans to spend on a public-private partnership. And although the link-up will probably not directly affect police officers, the Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers, said it had concerns. Paul Green, chairman of Avon and Somerset Police Federation, said: "We have raised the issue of a plane being hired with Dr Moira Hamlin and she told us in private that it was the most cost-effective option of getting to Suffolk. "Although we accepted the response we were never entirely happy with the reasoning." When asked about his views on the Post at first being told a "jet" had not been hired before we discovered the aircraft in question was in fact a propeller plane, Mr Green added: "There seems to be something wrong here. "The Freedom of Information Act was brought in to allow public bodies to be held fully accountable. "If the force has misled the Evening Post then it should be held to account for that and the matter should certainly be taken further." ISiS is a modernisation programme being considered by Somerset County Council and Taunton Deane Borough Council. They are working together to 'outsource' the provision and delivery of a number of services currently provided by in-house council staff. Before relocating to the West, Mr Port's wife worked for Suffolk County Council where she led the creation of a two-tier public-private partnership between Suffolk County Council, Mid-Suffolk District Council and BT. Mr Port's wife said: "I am required to attend meetings with partner organisations including Avon and Somerset Constabulary. "As part of my role I would expect to share learning and best practice with other public sector colleagues." A spokesman for Somerset County Council added: "She is employed by Somerset County Council as a consultant, working exclusively for the county council. "She does not work for Taunton Deane Borough Council, our partner in the ISiS Programme, the Avon and Somerset Police Constabulary, or the Avon and Somerset Police Authority." The force stressed that it needed to find a way of reducing budgets, but refused to comment on the flight, or whether the chief constable's wife had any day-to-day involvement with the force through the ISiS programme. Darren Bane, a force spokes- man, said: "Avon and Somerset Constabulary must continue to provide high quality services, strive to improve performance and adapt to major changes and developments. "However, the force must do so at a time of reducing budgets and so it is incumbent on the Constabulary to consider ways of achieving this. "This situation is not something that is unique to this police force and, indeed, it is being faced by all publicly-funded bodies in the present economic climate. "We are currently looking at a number of options for efficiency savings through possible strategic alliances with other police forces and public bodies. "This includes the possibility of joining the ISiS partnership involving Somerset County Council and Taunton Deane Borough Council. "The Constabulary has been invited to take up a seat with representatives from the two local authorities on the Joint Programme Board for ISiS - which it has accepted. "The Police Authority may decide to sign up to the partnership if it is seen to be of benefit to the Constabulary, but until then we cannot comment any further." |