LINCOLNSHIRE Police Authority has formed a partnership with a security firm in a bid to save money.
In the first partnership of its kind in the country, the authority has given a £200 million contract to G4S as it faces pressure from the Government to make savings.
The 10-year contract is expected to save the authority £28 million over the period.
A joint statement has been issued by police authority chairman Barry Young and Lincolnshire Police Chief Constable Richard Crompton.
They said the new partnership is a way of “bridging the financial gap” while maintaining and improving services.
They added: “The subsequent streamlining of processes will free up officer time to concentrate on operational policing.”
As well as business support, G4S staff will play an intergral role in operational services within the custody and ID unit, force control room, crime management bureau, central ticket office and collisions unit, criminal justice bureau and firearms licensing.
The pioneering partnership is seen as a benchmark for the way policing will be delivered in the future.
Mr Young and Ch Con Crompton said they see the new model as “underpinning the future of local policing and investing in new technologies and services”.
In the statement, they said: “If additional authorities decide to obtain services through the contract, they could be provided from Lincolnshire – potentially giving a boost to local employment.”