Partner Article

New ten year deal will see Police jobs leave the region

A ‘GROUND-BREAKING’ partnership has caused disappointment for workers in the region after Cleveland Police Authority signed a £175m deal with a national IT company.

The deal involves the privatisation and transfer of 470 control centre jobs to Hempstead based Steria UK, where it is hoped savings from the 10-year agreement will improve front-line policing services.

All staff which do decide to transfer will have the guarantee of no compulsory redundancies, protecting current terms and conditions and will save Cleveland police around £50m over the ten years.

Sean Price, the chief constable of Cleveland Police, said: “This contract will enable both the Authority and the Force to provide the service our communities deserve in these difficult financial times.

“Our commitment to Putting People First means that, through the partnership with Steria, we have been able to safeguard our people’s jobs while delivering improved services. We look forward to working with Steria in the months and years ahead.”

Although those who wish to move to Steria’s HQ in Hertfordshire will have their jobs protected, the news has come as a bitter to blow to one trade union.

Lynda Turnbull, The Police Authority branch secretary for Unison, said: “Unfortunately our campaign has not been taken into account. Neither has public opinion as we don’t feel they were properly consulted.

“We are very disappointed. We will speak to our members and get their views on what they want us to do next. If they want us to take this further then we will.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .