In 2006 the Greater Manchester Police Authority (GMPA) took delivery of the last of 16 new police stations provided under a PPP scheme designed to meet the demands of 21st century policing. The project, which also included a new headquarters for GMPA's traffic police, reprovided the largest number of facilities of any police PPP scheme, and was delivered on time and to budget.
Morale among officers improved quickly after occupying their new premises, and performance improved with it. According to Derek Osbaldestin, GMPA chairman: ‘'New stations such as this play an important part in the fight against crime by providing officers and civilian staff with high quality working conditions that are appropriate to a modern, efficient police force.''
We are now a market leader in the provision of PPP police facilities, with responsibility for the development and care of more than 30 police stations and two firearms and public order training facilities.
This is a highly specialised and demanding environment in which our facilities management team has an exceptionally strong track record. We employ over 250 staff for our police stations and training facilities across the country and to some projects, such as the Metropolitan Police's new stations in south east London, provide station reception officers who fulfil the vital role of first line response for the public, freeing officers to focus on their wider policing functions. We also work alongside police staff in custody suites, manage property stores and provide specialist typing services.
The Metropolitan police entrusted us with building and running their specialist training centre, which was described as a ‘World Class facility' by the judges of the 2005 Public Private Finance Awards for the best Local Authority Project. Designed, built, financed and operated by John Laing, it was a challenging project needing imaginative interpretation. The result is a training arena capable of handling over 75,000 training days a year, for 25 years.
Recognising that the cost of these facilities often falls below the threshold for the PFI financing route, we have adapted our offering to provide training facilities funded outside of traditional PFI models.
We will interpret the training need, raise the finance, source the land, build the training facility, equip it to the latest specifications and provide the on-going maintenance, under a lease arrangement, typically for ten years or longer.
Our understanding of the provision and management of custody suites, in particular, has enabled us to successfully broaden our horizons in the criminal justice sector. In a cross-departmental PFI contract, we have provided new accommodation for both the Avon and Somerset Magistrates' Courts and the Avon and Somerset Probation Service, for the Her Majesty's Courts Services (HMCS) and the Home Office respectively.
While the Avon and Somerset facilities are being delivered through PFI, our courts, property development and financing skills leave us well placed to undertake court schemes procured as Private Developer Schemes (PDS).
To discuss investment options in police and criminal justice, please contact Peter Ward on tel: + 44 (0) 20 7901 3200, or email: peter.ward@laing.com.
To discuss private developer schemes, please contact Saul Schneider on tel: + 44 (0) 20 7901 3200, or email: saul.schneider@laing.com.
To discuss facilities and performance management options for police and criminal justice projects, please contact John Laing Integrated Services on Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7901 3200.
