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Northgate Information Solutions, a leading provider of innovative services to the public sector and utilities markets, today calls on the government to better engage citizens and overhaul the procurement process to radically improve service delivery and restore public confidence in the police.

In a wide-ranging response to the Policing Green Paper, Northgate urges a fundamental shift towards the shared ‘purchase of solutions’ to support change management, at a time when IT procurement remains disaggregated and costs are too high.

Northgate argues that a ‘full service revolution’ can be achieved by developing ‘problem-solving partnerships’. These would engage with the public and empower them to interact in the fight against crime and improve the quality of life in their localities.

The response welcomes a number of the recommendations made in the Green Paper, but calls on the government to take further action, requiring:

a new compact with the public which moves beyond the provision of information to the development of dynamic, interactive interfaces between citizens and the police;
an understanding that crime and environmental and social nuisance must be tackled with a co-ordinated approach by local agencies acting together to deliver positive outcomes;
a radical approach to procurement, in which police purchases are built around business process, reengineering solutions informed by the experience of frontline services;
a mature relationship with the private sector, promoting a problem-solving partnership approach and replacing the dominant mode of contractor/supplier relationship with one which places innovation at the heart of effective community safety services.

Ian Blackhurst, Managing Director of Criminal Justice & Public Safety for Northgate Public Services, said today: “We warmly welcome the publication of the Policing Green Paper, but believe that a bolder approach is needed - one which harnesses the power of society to drive forward positive change.

“New forms of collaboration between the public, and the private and not-for-profit sectors are vital to promoting community safety and well-being. However, for this to happen mandating police forces to share procurement of IT systems will not in itself be the answer - technology and the procurement process must be harnessed to drive through a full service revolution.

“Problem-solving partnerships, which empower the public and encourage innovation in the private sector, could be a vital tool for the police in enhancing local accountability and could help to ensure that an evidence-based approach to preventing and tackling crime in the community is embraced.”

For more information

Fellows’ Associates:

Kathy Sutton 020 7849 3403; 07966 890401; ksutton@fellowsassociates.com

News 020 7849 3347; 07930 566291; news@fellowsassociates.com 

1. Northgate Information Solutions is a leading provider of innovative services to the public sector and utilities markets. Northgate’s task is to enhance public value through the intelligent use of people and technology, and to share in the economic and social benefits that this brings.

2. On 17th July 2008, the Home Secretary published the Policing Green Paper, From the neighbourhood to the national: policing our communities together.


Northgate’s response can be found at:

http://www.northgate-ispublicservices.com/page/view/public_policy