Hertfordshire Constabulary is keeping tight-lipped about whether a plan to outsource back office functions to G4S will be scrapped in the wake of the Olympics security shambles.


The three forces had been planning on using the company to provide support in HR, finance, ICT, procurement, corporate communications, services and development, estates, fleet, legal and business support.

However, the pressure is mounting on forces to distance themselves from the security giant in the wake of their failure to supply the 10,400 staff required by LOCOG.

Rumours are rife that the decision not to outsource back office functions to the company has already been made by police chiefs, although any decision will need to be considered by each of the police authorities.

Surrey Police Authority recently decided to suspend their own privitisation plan, identifying the company's Olympic failure as the reason behind the move.

A Hertfordshire Police Authority spokesman said the chief constables will update the police authorities' joint collaboration working groups at a meeting on Monday. 

The spokesman added: "The joint collaboration working group is not a decision making group, its role is to make recommendations to the three individual Police Authorities. 

"At this time, and until the police authorities have decided how they wish to proceed, it would be inappropriate to comment further."


The chief constables of Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire police forces met yesterday to consider scrapping the deal, worth up to £77m per year.

A Hertfordshire Constabulary spokesman said: “The chief constables of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire police forces have met and discussed at considerable length the current situation regarding the work to develop a full business case for the outsourcing of organisational support services through the Lincolnshire Police contract with G4S.

“Their meeting enabled them to consider the findings of the review of the contract to date and assess how it could meet the complex requirements of the three forces.

“The chief constables are continuing this discussion and will share their assessment with police authority members at a meeting of the strategic alliance joint working group early next week.
 

“Any changes to the current programme would have formally to be considered in public by each police authority.”