Thames Valley Police drops ERP system after spending £14m

Thames Valley Police (TVP) has invested £14.4m developing business resource organizing (ERP) software that it no for a longer period strategies to use.

The cash was put in among 2016 and late 2020 as portion of TVP’s Equip programme, an ERP procurement and implementation partnership with Sussex and Surrey Police, both of those of which have acquired the software program and could continue to use it.

Between the three police forces, the Equip programme has price tag a whole of £36.6m so far, and was set up to increase back-office techniques.

According to a occupation advert posted by TVP for a venture support officer for the programme, the IT system would offer with human means, finance and payroll, recruitment, and responsibilities management.

“This is a big-scale, business-vital programme masking 6 counties in England, with scope for a further 32 community sector organisations to procure the exact same selected solution about the class of the deal interval,” the advert reported. “A new one-occasion ERP is without doubt a critical enabler to driving efficiencies within the back again office environment as effectively as offering substantial operational advantages to front-line policing.”

A framework arrangement, which sets out the conditions for subsequent contracts or agreements, released by Surrey Police, exhibits that the likely life span worth of the Equip undertaking was £120m. The framework was solely awarded to accountancy company KMPG, which was the only supplier permitted to bid on any opportunities put out by way of the arrangement.

TVP’s annual accounts for 2020-2021 stated the pressure experienced been functioning with KPMG on the programme considering the fact that 2016, and experienced used £8.3m up to 2020 and a even further £6.1m through 2020, bringing the total to £14.4m.

The force’s former police and criminal offense commissioner (PCC) Anthony Stansfeld claimed in September 2020 that its internal prices have been “very considerable” and that he was “totally dissatisfied” with Equip’s progress.

Sussex Police’s annual accounts demonstrate it has invested £12.4m on the programme so much, even though Surrey Police’s present it has used £9.5m.

In its accounts document, TVP added that, in December 2020, “the chief constables agreed that the ERP item developed by KPMG should really be transferred to the a few forces to mitigate in opposition to long term fiscal risk”.

Even though TVP did not comment on the character of the chance presented by preserving the method with KPMG, a joint statement issued to Laptop or computer Weekly from all three forces mentioned that “approval was granted by the then 3 PCCs to transfer the ERP computer software, documentation and certified assets” from KPMG.

It added: “Following closure of the tri-drive Equip programme, a new Surrey and Sussex ERP programme has been established up to seem at long term ERP operate. In Surrey Law enforcement and Sussex Law enforcement, the respective main constables and PCCs are thinking about a assortment of possibilities for use, growth of Equip belongings and/or extra ERP solutions for improved functionality.

“In Thames Valley, the chief constable and PCC are taking into consideration possibilities for an ERP technique by the Next Ways programme, and appropriate funding was involved in the Medium Time period Financial Plan (2021/22 to 2024/25) to finance new things to do, but the system is to discontinue any even more enhancement of the Equip process as transferred.”