Durham PCC recognised as first in the country to use Social Value Toolkit for custody provision project.

In the latest report by the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC), Durham Police and Crime Commissioners Office has been highlighted as a standout organisation for social value, due to its Investigative Hub project.

The new development, which is taking place in DurhamGate, Thinford, is the largest ever investment undertaken jointly by the Force and Police and Crime Commissioners Office, which will boast a 48-cell facility, state of the art custody suite and new Investigative Hub.

The report outlines how the project has been the first in the country to utilise the BlueLight Commercial Social Value Toolkit. The toolkit can be used as a guide to help future suppliers and forces to make a positive impact on local environmentand the economy when developing new projects and services.

Commissioner Joy Allen, who is also APCC Joint Lead for Environment and Sustainability, said “uponmy appointment I took the decision to include social value principles in procurement tenders to encourage successful bidders to award goods and service contracts to organisations based in County Durham and Darlington and the North East Region.

“The social value criteria forms over ten percent of scoring for the awarding of high valued contracts and its estimated that this contract alone will deliver £6 million in social value.

“Even though the project is still in its early stages we have already added to social value by welcoming two Quantity Surveyor Apprentices onto the building team and we’re also working with local charity Changing Lives to provide training for vulnerable people in the area.

“We are delighted that we have been recognised by the APCC in their report as it really reflects the hard work we have been doing to ensure this makes a positive impact for the community. As part of my role as Joint Lead for Environment and Sustainability and as a commissioner, I have a responsibility to ensuring that the forces, commissioned services and offices are employing environmentally friendly and sustainable practices for the future.”

Recognition of the project has led to Commissioner Joy Allen being asked to pilot a national project with the Construction Innovation Hub. This will support other business by developing a Construction Value Toolkit that can be used to bid for public contracts and introduce social value initiatives.

Click this link to read the full report: apcc-environmental-and-sustainability-in-focus.pdf (apccs.police.uk)

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