Decision Reference Number: WPCC3-0094
Lead Officer: Polly Reed
Chief Officer approval: Chief officer approval gained on 30/05/23
Date: 31/05/23
Status: Non-confidential
Decision summary:
The Chief Officers and the Policing Bodies wish to enter into a collaboration agreement pursuant to section 22A of the Police Act 1996 (as amended by the PRSRA).
I confirm that my register of interests declaration is up to date and that none of my interests preclude me from making this decision.
Signature: Philip Seccombe
Date: 31/05/23
Supporting information
1. Background information
The Chief Officers and the Policing Bodies wish to enter into a collaboration agreement pursuant to section 22A of the Police Act 1996 (as amended by the PRSRA) containing provision relating to:
- the discharge of functions of members of a police force (“force collaboration provision”); and
- the support by a policing body for another policing body (“policing body collaboration provision”); and
- the support by a policing body for the police force which another policing body is responsible for maintaining (“policing body and force collaboration provision”).
This Agreement sets out the arrangements for the discharge of the Policing Bodies’ functions under this collaboration. The Parties are cognisant of their rights and responsibilities under the PRSRA and that Policing Bodies are constrained by the provisions of section 18 of the PRSRA and as a result unable to delegate their functions to Chief Officers, other Policing Bodies, police constables or staff of either Chief Officers or other Policing Bodies. Each Party acknowledges that for this Agreement to be binding on its Police Service it must be signed by both its Chief Officer and its Policing Body (or their respective authorised delegates).
The FCIN is responsible for the delivery of the following key services:
- Centralised Scientific Development, Validation and Application
- National Test Centre Activities including Competency Testing
- Auditing
- FCIN internal quality management
- National Forces Account Management and Engagement
- Proficiency Testing/ILC
2. List of additional information attached as appendices
20.10.12 National Collaboration Agreement
3. Expected benefits
The creation of the FCIN would be in the interests of the efficiency and/or effectiveness of one or more policing bodies or police forces and therefore the Parties hereby agree to exercise their collaboration functions so as to give effect to this Agreement. In particular: the Policing Bodies agree that they shall provide the financial resources and support to the FCIN including, but not limited to, premises, equipment, fleet, staff, services and facilities in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement; and the Chief Officers agree that they should collaborate in FCIN and that they shall provide the officers, staff, equipment and support necessary to give effect to this Agreement.
The aims of FCIN are to facilitate achievement of UKAS accreditation for all Member Forces in England and Wales and thereafter support the maintenance of UKAS accreditation for Member Forces. To this end, the Host Force will seek UKAS accreditation of its own forensic capabilities. The FCIN will be a standard function, hosted by the Host Force to assist and support Member Forces in the delivery of accredited forensic collision investigation and to continue to seek opportunities to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the provision of forensic collision investigation practices for and on behalf of Member Forces; and anything which could be considered incidental or ancillary to any of the aforementioned aims.
4. Impact of not approving the application
Efficient and effectiveness of the force could be impacted by not being part of the FCIN national collaboration agreement and services delivered effected and forensic capabilities. The parties would be operating under an out-of-date collaboration agreement
5. Costs (including any identified savings)
The Parties agree that the Apportionment Ratio for each Financial Year is the proportion of any financial amounts to be paid by the Parties to this Agreement as set out in the columns below based on the Net Revenue Expenditure Formula model (subject to amendment according to the number of Parties to this Agreement)
For purposes of illustration the apportionment ratio percentages and financial contributions for 2023/2024 appear below:
| Police Force | NRE% 2021/22 | FY 2023/24 |
| Warwickshire | 0.85% | £23,371 |
6. Equality considerations
No equality implications have been identified.
7. Legal comments
The OPCC has obtained legal advice on the terms and conditions of the new s.22 Agreement.
8. Social or Environmental considerations
The FCIN collaboration provides benefit to Warwickshire Police, it’s employees, the communities served.
9. Publication
Information in this form is subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOI Act) and other legislation. The information provided is exempt under s.31(1)(a) and will not be published on the Warwickshire PCC website.
Comments from the Treasurer
This agreement does not create any additional financial implications for Warwickshire and this decision will ensure that the governance is in place to enable the continuation of the existing S22 collaboration arrangements for FCIN policing on a national level.
Comments from the Chief Executive and Monitoring Officer
This collaboration supports the governance and coordination of arrangements for deploying police officers nationally. As Warwickshire both uses and supports the arrangements it is appropriate to sign the agreement.
