Cash-strapped Surrey Police took the first step towards privatising some of its services this week.

A proposal to explore how the force, which is facing a £5m spending shortfall, could make savings by partnering with the private sector was put forward at a public meeting on Thursday, October 13.

The force need to save £29m in the next five years to balance their budget.

However, with projected savings currently set at £24.6m, Surrey Police have to find a further £4.4m.

At the meeting, the Surrey Police Authority, 17 councillors and independent members of the public responsible for overseeing the force voted in favour of the plan.

Chief Constable Mark Rowley said: “Through a procurement process, it will be established whether partnering with the private sector is a feasible option and will enable the force to provide more value for the Surrey public.”

While services that may be open to privatisation have not been established, police have made clear that no front line services would be privatised.

The process, which is a joint initiative with West Midlands Police and has the backing the Home Office, will cost an estimated £5m.

Of that cost, £2m will be funded by the Home Office, £2m by West Midlands police and £1m by Surrey police, money which has already been allocated from the force improvement budget.

Peter Williams, chairman of Surrey Police Authority, said: “What we have debated and agreed upon today is to embark on an exploratory process to see whether partnering with a private sector organisation can help us deliver the savings we need to maintain a strong front line and further improve the way Surrey Police provides services to the public.

“We recognise that this is a step into hitherto unexplored territory for us and members have made it absolutely clear that the authority will maintain a tight grip on this project over the next 12 months, building in a number of ‘exit points‘ to terminate the process should it transpire that it is not the right option for Surrey.”