PCD 1715 L2 Public Order Fleet and Uniform Uplift

This paper seeks approval to invest in and initiate procurement for the acquisition of 96 protected carriers (vehicles) to support the London and national requirements for public order policing. The initial cost is estimated at £10,848,000, with annual running costs of £792,000. These costs will be met from within the approved capital programme and existing revenue budgets.  In addition, MPS seek approval for investment of £574,000 to purchase personal protective equipment (PPE) for the increased number of officers trained at Level 2 public order training.  This cost will be met from the approved New Met for London budget.   

The Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime is recommended to:   

1. Approve the capital and revenue spend, to uplift the protected carrier fleet by 96 units. A total capital spend of £10,848,000 and annual revenue spend of £792,000, from existing budgets within MO6 for hire vehicles.  Each carrier has a planned life of 10 years. The funding for this is identified in the 2024-25 NMFL funding.  

2. Approve additional uplift of £574,000 as parts of the NUMS contract. To order and replace personal protective level kit to support the increase in specialist skills and training of NBCU and BCU colleagues for a MPS wide response to public order duties. The funding for this is identified in the 2024-25 NMFL funding. 

3. Approve the initiation of procurement action to support the purchase and conversion of 96 protected carriers with a total contract value, including 15% contingency, of £12,485,000. With delegated authority to award contracts to the Director of Commercial Services. 

PART I - NON-CONFIDENTIAL FACTS AND ADVICE TO THE DMPC 

1. Introduction and background  

1. The MPS is in the process of uplifting the number of officers trained at Level 2 public order policing to c4,500.  

2. Issues for consideration 

1. These proposals were already in train ahead of the recent violent disorder incidents. The incidents in London and across the country has further highlighted the need for the appropriate level of officers and equipment for public order policing.  

2. Under the Strategic Policing Requirement (section 77 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibilities Act 2011) the National Mobilisation Plan requires the MPS to provide 96 Police Support Units (PSUs) every 24 hours for a sustained period (10 days+). 

3. The MPS currently has 220 protected carriers. An additional 96 are required to meet the national requirement and capacity to meet London protest requirements. When not in use for public order events the vehicles will be available for other operational policing requirements. 

4. The acquisition of the additional carriers will reduce the annual cost of hiring vehicles, and reduce the MPS reliance on and cost of mutual aid. 

5. As a result of the increase in Level 2 trained officers there is a need for investment of upto £574,000 in personal protective equipment. 

3. Financial Comments  

1. The estimated capital cost of acquiring the protected carriers is £10,848,000 – this will be funded from the approved capital programme. There is associated annual running costs for these vehicles estimated at £792,000 which will be met from within existing budgets.   

2. The purchase of the vehicles will reduce vehicle hire costs by between £1,600,000 and £1,800,000.  In addition, there will be a reduced call on mutual aid costs.  The MPS assure that both of these reductions are cost avoidance measures and not cashable savings. 

3. The cost of the additional personal protective equipment is £574,000. This will be funded from the approved New Met for London budget. 

4. Legal Comments 

1. The MPS Directorate of Legal Services has confirmed that the route to market is compliant with the Public Contract Regulations. 

2. The MOPAC Scheme of Delegation and Consent provides the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime (“DMPC”) has delegated authority to approve:  

• Business cases for revenue or capital expenditure of £500,000 and above (paragraph 4.8); and 

• All requests to go out to tender for contracts of £500,000 or above, or where there is a particular public interest (paragraph 4.13).  

3. Paragraph 7.23 of the Scheme provides that the Director of Commercial Services has consent for the approval of the award of all contracts, with the exception of those called in through the agreed call in procedure.  Paragraph 4.14 of the Scheme provides the DMPC reserves the right to call in any MPS proposal to award a contract for £500,000 or above. 

5. Commercial Issues  

1. The acquisition of the carriers and the conversion to being protected will be sourced via a new procurement. MPS assure that the specific route to market will be determined subject to the timing of the procurement either within the existing Public Contract Regulations or the Procurement Act which is being implemented from October 2024. 

2. The MPS assure that the route to market will include evaluation of social value elements consistent with the London Anchor Institute Charter.   

3. The additional investment in personal protective equipment will be provided by way of the existing MOPAC-approved National Uniform Managed Service (NUMS). This contract had a value uplift in 2023 including to enable the extra cost of public order equipment. 

6. GDPR and Data Privacy  

1. MOPAC will adhere to the Data Protection Act (DPA) 2018 and ensure that any organisations who are commissioned to do work with or on behalf of MOPAC are fully compliant with the policy and understand their GDPR responsibilities.   

2. The MPS assure that the proposals do not use personally identifiable data of members of the public, so there are no GDPR issues to be considered. 

7. Equality Comments  

1. MOPAC is required to comply with the public sector equality duty set out in section 149(1) of the Equality Act 2010. This requires MOPAC to have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations by reference to people with protected characteristics. The protected characteristics are: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. 

2. The MPS assure that as this is an extension of an existing service this proposal does not broadly change any aspects relating to equality or diversity. The business case has undergone an initial equality screening and as a result, no positive or negative impact has been identified to any individual and/or group safeguarded by a protected characteristic and to those who are not. 

8. Background/supporting papers 

• Appendix 1 MPS Report - Public Order Carrier Fleet and Uniform Uplift