Decision Reference Number: WPCC4-0037
Lead Officer: Sara Ansell
Chief Officer approval: N/A
Date: 23/12/2024
Publication
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Status: Non-confidential
If partially-confidential or confidential please detail the FOI exemption applied and specify which parts are confidential:
Decision summary:
To agree the new Fees and Charges, as recommended by NPCC, for charges for Police Services (special and general services) to 3rd parties.
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: P. Seccombe
Date: 15.01.25
Supporting information
1. Background information: why do we need to make this decision?
Warwickshire Police levies charges to users for certain services. These rates are reviewed and approved on an annual basis. It is important that Warwickshire Police charges, where appropriate, to ensure that income is raised to offset the costs of delivering the services.
The proposed rates for 2025 have been calculated using the latest guidance issued by the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC), in their document National Policing Guidelines for Policing Services 2025 – General and the separate document for Special Policing Services.
The documents separate charges into the following groups:
- Charges for items where the guidance recommends minimum levels of charges for 2025/26 – Appendix 2 (page 17 – 20) of the National Policing Guidelines on charging for Police Services (general)
- Statutorily set charges where the Police and Crime Commissioner has no choice but to charge the rates set out by the Home Office. These relate primarily to firearms licensing and are shown on page 21 of appendix 2 of National Policing Guidelines on charging for Police Services (general)
- Charges for Special Policing Services (SPS). These are police services provided over and above core policing at the request of a person or an organisation. The rates from the 1st January 2025 are as included in appendix 2 of the National Policing guidelines on charging for police services: Special Police Services.
These charges have been determined by the NPCC based on an analysis of costs to provide the services. The charges should help to ensure that the public is reimbursed for any services provided to third parties, and that the costs of delivering the service are offset by the charges.
The ability to charge for police services is determined by statutory provisions. These provisions cover four principal areas:
- The provision of Special Police Services at the request of any person under Section 25 of the Police Act 1996 (as amended) which makes such services subject to payment of charges as determined by the PCC. Special police services generally relate to policing an event, e.g., a pop concert, or series of events, e.g., football matches.
- Section 26 of the 1996 Act applies similar requirements to the provision of police services above but applies where they are delivered overseas.
- Section 15 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 extends to PCCs the powers of the Local Authorities (Goods and Services) Act 1970 to supply goods and services to other bodies or persons. This may include services provided in competition with other providers, e.g., training or vehicle maintenance, where charges will reflect market rates, or services as a by-product of core police activity such as provision of collision reports.
- The provision of police services to other agencies such as the Home Office Immigration Enforcement (HOIE) or H.M Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS).
The charges contained within the appendices of the supporting documentation, take account of any changes, such as pay increases, and will apply from the 1st January 2025 until superseded.
A full document detailing all fees and charges specific to Warwickshire will also be produced to provide an easy to read format for 2025.
2. What additional documents are relied upon? Please provide a link or separate attachments.
Supporting document –
NPCC Guidelines on Charging for Police Services – General 2025
NPCC guidance on charging for Police Services – Special Police Services 2025
3. What benefits will this bring, including financial, social or environmental benefits?
The approval of this approach for fees and charges, will ensure that any charges levied either cover all the costs of supplying the service thereby not disadvantaging the public purse, or are as laid out nationally. It also ensures that all Forces charge the same rate rather than competing with each other.
4. What is the impact of not approving the application?
If the NPCC guidance is not formally approved then it would not be possible to levy charges until a policy for these charges is in place
5. How much will it cost? (please provide cost breakdown, including any identified savings, and include where they have been approved)
Formal approval of the NPCC guidance on charging will ensure that Warwickshire police can recover costs incurred for providing services to third parties.
6. Who has been consulted on this proposal?
All Forces have been consulted on the charges via the NPCC and APCC
7. Will this decision have an impact on any specific individuals or groups or communities?
The policy will be applied in line with the national guidance, and should not disproportionately impact any specific individuals , groups or communities.
8. Does this decision have legal implications? Has legal advice been sought?
Specific legal advice has not been sought, but the adoption of the national guidance will allow costs to be fully recovered. The ability of Forces to charge is set out in statute as explained above, and forces can only make a charge to cover the recovery of costs.
Comments from the Chief Finance Officer
The formal approval of the NPCC guidance for charging for special police services outlines the costs that can be recovered. These are consistent for all forces that approve this approach. This will ensure that any services provided to third parties can be fully recovered.
Comments from the Chief Executive and Monitoring Officer
This is an important part of the Corporate Governance arrangements for the PCC and Warwickshire Police.
