Outsourcing the Met's back office

Metropolitan Police plans to contract out services to the private sector present huge risks, the London Assembly is warning.

The Budget & Performance Committee report To Protect and Save cautions that unless the Met improves its commercial expertise, it risks a high-profile outsourcing failure. The report also finds:

• While the Met is initially focusing on “back-office” services, the Commissioner says that it must review “all but core policing functions” to determine whether external contractors can provide services at better value.
• Unsuccessful deals might not make the savings the Met needs, and could put its performance at risk.
• The Met lacks commercial expertise – this must be addressed if it is to secure good deals over the lifetime of contracts.

The report, alongside supporting documentation from throughout the Committee's investigation, is available below.

For more information, contact [email protected].