Vehicle Evaluation Collaboration

The Metropolitan Police Service seeks approval to provide vehicle evaluation services to other police forces and vehicle suppliers to support UK policing.

The Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime is recommended to:

1. Approve the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime entering into collaboration agreements under section 22A of the Police Act 1996 with policing bodies and chief officers for vehicle evaluation services.

2. Approve the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime entering into goods and services agreements under section 15 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 with vehicle suppliers for vehicle evaluation services to support UK policing.

1. Introduction and background

1.1. Police forces’ vehicles are workplaces for officers and staff, carry sophisticated policing equipment, and provide a safe environment for the transport of the public and prisoners. For some time the MPS’s evaluation has been requested by police forces considering vehicles for purchase. Fleet Services has redesigned the test with industry experts using the state-of-the-art testing regimes.

2. Issues for consideration

2.1. The Metropoloitan Police Service will now offer other police forces the opportunity to enter into collaboration agreements for vehicle evaluation services, and vehicle suppliers the opportunity to enter into goods and services agreements for vehicle evaluation services to support UK policing.

3. Financial Comments

3.1. Income from police forces and vehicle suppliers will be budgeted to cover the cost of undertaking vehicle evaluation.

4. Legal Comments

4.1. Section 15 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 amends section 1 of the Local Authorities (Goods and Services) Act 1970 (“LAGSA”) to the extent that MOPAC may, in relation to any relevant trading operation carried on by MOPAC, enter into an agreement to supply to any person the provision of any administrative, professional or technical services.

4.2. Paragraph 4.8 of the MOPAC Scheme of Consent and Delegation (“Scheme”) provides that the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime (“DMPC”) has delegated authority to approve all requests to bid tender or quote for the provision of services to other organisations (including other Greater London Authority functional bodies and local authorities) for £500,000 and above.

4.3. Paragraph 7.8 of the Scheme provides that the Director of Commercial and Finance has consent to approve all requests to bid, tender or quote for the provision of services to other organisations (including other GLA functional bodies and local authorities) with a value below £500,000 and their subsequent approval.

4.4. Under section 15(3) MOPAC may not enter into an agreement with another local policing body under section 1 of LAGSA in respect of a matter which could be the subject of force collaboration provision in a collaboration agreement under section 22A of the PA. Section 22A of the PA provides a collaboration agreement may be made by two or more policing bodies or the chief officers of police of one or more police forces and two or more policing bodies.

4.5. Paragraph 4.5 of the Scheme provides that the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime (“DMPC”) has delegated authority to approve a collaboration agreement made under section 22A of the PA.

4.6. No significant legal risks have been identified.

5. Commercial Issues

5.1. The agreements will provide a sound legal framework regulating all aspects of the provision of vehicle evaluation services, including cost recovery and liability.

6. GDPR and Data Privacy

6.1. The MPS is subject to the requirements and conditions placed on it as a 'State' body to comply with the European Convention of Human Rights and the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA). Both requirements place an obligation on the MPS to process personal data fairly and lawfully in order to safeguard the rights and freedoms of individuals.

6.2. Under Article 35 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and section 57 of the DPA, Data Protection Impact Assessments become mandatory for organisations with technologies and processes that are likely to result in a high risk to the rights of the data subjects.

6.3. The Information Assurance and Information Rights Units within the MPS will be consulted when necessary to ensure that compliance requirements are met.

7. Equality Comments

7.1. This business case has undergone an initial equality screening. Due regard has been taken to the Equality Act 2010’s Public Sector Equality Duty. Real consideration has been taken to assess equality impact caused by the activity. Evaluation ensures that vehicles purchased are fit for their policing purpose, taking into account the diverse needs of individuals, and that suppliers have rigorous employment practices. No positive or negative impact has been identified to any individual or group safeguarded by a protected characteristic and those who are not.

8. Background/supporting papers

8.1. Report