‘No merger’ as stretched police forces reveal plans to collaborate

South Yorkshire and Humberside already share IT and human resources and have an agreement to run a joint Specialist Operational Service, covering areas like firearms and roads policing.

Now, as both forces seek to save tens of millions of pounds after seeing their budgets slashed by the Government, they have set up a “strategic partnership” to look at other aspects of service that could follow suit.

South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner Alan Billings and his Humberside counterpart Matthew Grove, who met last week, admit policing needs to be done “more efficiently and smarter” while protecting front line officers and community policing.

A statement released on their behalf yesterday added that they and the senior command teams “are all very clear that this is not a merger of the two organisations and each force will retain its own identity”.

Dr Billings said: “All police forces across the UK are struggling with the continued cuts to the policing grant. We now have to look to do things more efficiently and smarter.

“I am extremely pleased to be collaborating with Humberside Police and look forward to working with Matthew to implement some highly effective efficiency savings.”

Mr Grove added: “My priority is to ensure that the outcomes of my Police and Crime Plan; namely to reduce crime, improve support to victims and protect the public are delivered whilst balancing the budget and ensuring value for money.

“I am prepared to examine all potential opportunities that allow these outcomes to be delivered.

“Clearly, in a time of austerity we must protect the number of frontline officers and staff as much as possible to deliver an effective police service for our residents. This enhanced partnership will explore all opportunities to do that.”

A special team has been set up to look at what changes are feasible and where savings could be made, the two commissioners said yesterday,