Commissioner Henry outside Phoenix House
Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner Caroline Henry has freed up an extra £600k for policing after securing a new lease deal on a vital building.
As part of a pledge to ensure Nottinghamshire Police maximises every penny of its funding and policing estate to protect local people, Commissioner Henry has negotiated an improved deal on the lease of Phoenix House in Mansfield – netting the force £60k a year for the next 10 years.
The savings will be reinvested back into policing - and boosting the number of bobbies on the beat.
Mrs Henry said: “This new rental agreement has released a huge sum of money which can now be used to deliver what local people want most – bobbies on the beat.
“I want to explore and exhaust every opportunity to save money so our communities not only receive the policing response and service they deserve but that our hardworking officers have the kit, technology and support they need to do a good job. The two things go hand in hand.
“Put very simply, every penny of funding is precious. While I will do whatever it takes to secure more from Westminster, I also want to ensure we are always getting the best deal when it comes to spending public funds and maximising the value of our estate.”
Chief Constable Craig Guildford has welcomed the new deal as part of the force’s Estate Strategy which aims to realise savings on buildings in order to maximise the number of officers and staff.
Mr Guildford said: “This new deal is another example of how we can maximise efficiency to provide a better service to the public.
“Savings like this help us to recruit and maintain more staff and to continue to invest in new technologies.
“We’ve been very clear on efficiencies and operationally I always want both cheaper, and less square feet to help me deliver more on the beat. Something we have achieved at Worksop, Hucknall and West Bridgford already with hopefully more to come.
“Whether it be very successful rollout of Operation Reacher teams across the county, our two dedicated knife crime teams or investing in new technology, we have continuously assessed how we can work to deliver the best for people in Nottinghamshire.”
Phoenix House is an important multi-purpose facility next to Mansfield Police Station that hosts several departments from across the force.
Chief Constable Guildford has explained how valuable the site is and how the renewal of the lease is positive news for Nottinghamshire.
He said: “Phoenix House is a vital facility that houses a lot of the force’s administrative departments.
“The teams who work there play a key role in keeping our force working behind the scenes – we are really pleased with the building and the offering it provides for staff who work there.”
Video Message from Commissioner Henry: https://youtu.be/pRU5xitI-MM
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Posted on Wednesday 14th July 2021