Centralised storage
Free up officers' time and improve service
The storage of evidential property, its cataloguing, timely appearance at court and correct disposal or return to its rightful owner can be a logistics nightmare for any police service. The outsourcing of property management can relieve police services of the burden imposed by the storage of these items, freeing up police officers' time, expensive facilities and providing an improved service for members of the public, police services and victims of crime. By centralising property storage, space in police stations is freed for other uses and officers released from dealing with routine property management to more visible policing.
Reliance proactively manages the storage of items in accordance with official government regulations. After allotted time frames, items will be disposed of via police auction, recycled or disposed of correctly, e.g. electrical items in accordance with WEEE regulations. A system whereby police officers confirm items for disposal is strictly enforced. Introducing weekly rather than montly collections and disposals from regional stations removes problems incurred when collecting or disposing of items i.e. drugs disposal. The opening hours of the property store are extended to longer hours per day, seven days per week, facilitating access for officers and the public alike. A dedicated telephone number is introduced and manned by the Reliance team for all public enquires regarding “lost & found”, thus freeing the non-emergency number for the reporting of crime. Reliance offer an enhanced service by returning property to its rightful owners, clearing storage space quickly and effectively. The Reliance team actively attempts to discover who owns lost and found property such as mobile phones and laptop computers by turning them on and accessing the data, while providing police with useful information.
Our partnership with Cleveland Police through the PFI provision of two Divisional Headquarters has seen us provide the first force-wide property storage management service for a UK police force. A similar service is in operation for the Northern Division of Kent police at their new Northfleet Police Station.
Reliance already has a proven track record of looking after evidential property as we are entrusted to provide logistics support for the movement of critical forensic evidence for the Forensic Science Services (FSS), including weapons and explosives between 39 police forces and forensic laboratories across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.