Forces say they will finish their business case to outsource to a private company in the next few months

Chief officers from three forces have announced they are pressing ahead with a full business case to assess the impact of joining Lincolnshire Police’s outsourcing contract with G4S.

Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Police Authorities' Joint Working Group has met with chief officers for an update on the search for a private partner to take on organisational support services.

When the group met in July, it requested a review of the prospective plan in the wake of the G4S Olympic security fiasco.

But the forces have now said work will continue to develop the outsourcing business case and examine the pros and cons of the Lincolnshire contract. The details would then be ready for the incoming police and crime commissioners to consider.

A Cambridgeshire Constabulary spokesperson said: "Work on developing the full range of savings proposals for 2013/14 continues within the force, to ensure the PCC is able to achieve the required level of budget savings in the event of the outsourcing approach not being agreed or being delayed.

"As part of this, work on an alternative option for the force will also continue, as instructed by the police authority. Similar work is also ongoing in Bedfordshire."

In a joint statement, the forces said: “The work to develop the full business case will continue to scrutinise the Lincolnshire Police G4S contract and assess the ability of the contract to meet the specific requirements of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire.”