A POLICE force is seeking to privatise several of its key functions in a cost-cutting move to save jobs and protect front line policing.

Councillor Dave McLuckie, the Chairman of Cleveland Police Authority said its members had agreed today to consider the possibility of involving a private sector partner in delivering back office functions involving up to 500 jobs.

Councillor McLuckie said making the move could potentially generate tens of millions of pounds over ten-years.

He said the savings could be vital to protect jobs and front-line policing.

The two potential partners shortlisted by the authority, Capgemini/Reliance and Steria, have been asked to come forward with proposals for back office activities as well as information technology and some aspects of the control room operations.

In total this would involve between 450 and 500 staff and councillor McLuckie again stressed that protecting their interests would be a top priority.

He said all staff affected would be employed under their current terms and conditions, pension and representation rights would be protected.

There would be full and open access to opportunities in the partner organisation and both potential bidders would be required to agree to a long-term guarantee of no compulsory redundancies, he added.

The authority's move comes on the same day as the powerful House of Commons Home Affairs Committee has issued a report highlighting the success of Cleveland Police's private sector partnership for delivery of custody and medical services.

The committee said that working with the private sector can provide the police with expertise they may lack, value for money in service delivery and a source of up-front investment.

Coun McLuckie said: "We are determined to ensure that we continue to build on our successes delivering Neighbourhood Policing, responding to local people's needs and concerns, and providing our officers with the tools they need to do the job.

"But the brutal fact is that policing, in common with every other part of the public service, is going to face huge financial pressures over the next few years with the prospect of very significant reductions in Government funding.

"This situation is not of our choice but we have to recognise the realities and unless we are able to continue modernising the way we operate, in other words doing things better and smarter, we could in a very short time be facing the prospect of having to consider big cuts...in both jobs and front-line policing.

"Whilst the involvement of a private sector partner in delivering support services would not solve all our potential financial difficulties but it could make a significant contribution, certainly tens of millions of pounds over the ten years we would expect the partnership to operate."

Sean Price, Chief Constable of Cleveland Police, said: "Our key priorities are to protect our people's jobs and improve our services to the communities we serve.

"I believe that these proposals may give us the opportunity to do that in this difficult financial climate.

"We know that by even moderate estimations, we could be facing budget cuts of between five per cent and one per cent in the coming years.

"In this type of environment, many organisations will be looking to reduce services and staff; indeed many already are.

"This is not the way I want us to go in Cleveland Police, and I believe that these proposals have the potential to protect our peoples future and provide the people of Cleveland with an ever better service."