Sir Harry Page Award 2009 goes to West Midlands Police

The work of West Midlands Police in developing the Police Objective Analysis (POA) approach which helps provide a better understanding of the true costs of policing and enables improved decision making and resource allocation, has been recognised by the presentation of the Sir Harry Page Merit Award 2009 at the annual conference of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA).

Police Objective Analysis provides a structured way of describing local and specialised policing services, together with operational and business support that are consistent for management accounting and service comparison. The POA format was developed through extensive consultation and collaboration with key stakeholders and the technical merit of different options were evaluated to ensure that, while meeting the needs of managers, the principles of financial reporting were alsoupheld. The result is a model that meets the needs of the police service while also keeping to the high standards of CIPFA.

CIPFA President Roger Latham said:
“The POA development transforms the description and analysis of police service spending. The streamlined administration process frees up police officers from detailed paperwork. I congratulate Derek Smith and his West Midlands Police team”.

Derek Smith, Director of Resources, West Midlands Police said:
“We were surprised and delighted to be given the Sir Harry Page Merit Award, but we could not have achieved this without considerable support from colleagues across the country. Our sincere thanks go to everyone involved over the last 18 months”

The Sir Harry Page Technical Innovation Merit Award is made for an outstanding piece of technical work within the field of public service accounting and financial management. Sir Harry Page was a former President of CIPFA and City Treasurer of Manchester. The Award has been presented annually since 1969 and attracts entries from a wide range of organisations.

ENDS

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Contact: Guy Roberts/Chloe Forbes/ Lindsay Machin
CIPFA Press Office
t 020 7543 5712/5787/5645
e guy.roberts@cipfa.org.uk /chloe.forbes@cipfa.org.uk/ lindsay.machin@cipfa.org.uk

Notes to Editors:

The principal members of the West Midlands Police team which developed the Police Objective Analysis were:
Derek Smith, Director of Resources
David Wilkin, Head of Finance and Procurement
Beth Stevens, Senior Accountant

About CIPFA

CIPFA, the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, is the professional body for people in public finance. Our 14,000 members work throughout the public services, in national audit agencies, in major accountancy firms, and in other bodies where public money needs to be effectively and efficiently managed. As the only UK professional accountancy body to specialise in public services, CIPFA’s qualifications are the foundation of a career in public finance. They include the benchmark professional qualification for public sector accountants as well as a postgraduate diploma for people already working in leadership positions. Our in-house CIPFA Education and Training Centre delivers the range of our programmes at locations across the UK, and works with other places of learning to provide our courses locally. We also champion high performance in public services, translating our experience and insight into clear advice and practical services. They include information and guidance, courses and conferences, property and asset management solutions, consultancy and interim people for a range of public sector clients. Globally, CIPFA shows the way in public finance by standing up for sound public financial management and good governance. We work with governments, accounting bodies and the public sector around the world to advance public finance and support its professionals.