§ Mr. BradyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent steps he has taken to assess the efficiency of police management. [147068]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeIn November 1998 the Home Office launched a police efficiency process which required police authorities and forces to plan and deliver efficiency gains equivalent to 2 per cent. of Net Revenue Expenditure (NRE) each year between 1999 and 2002. This process is monitored by audit and inspection and in 1999–2000 delivered efficiency gains totalling £183 million, or 2.46 per cent. of NRE.
A Public Sector Productivity Panel report in April 2000 recommended a more sophisticated approach to measuring the relative efficiency of forces. The proposals are currently being trialled.
In April 2000 the police became subject to Best Value legislation which requires each police authority to ensure that its services are delivered by the most effective, economic and efficient means available and, over a five year period, to review all of its functions.