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SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT

FOR THE PROVISION OF

POLICE COMMUNITY SUPPORT OFFICERS

BETWEEN

THE CHIEF CONSTABLE OF SUFFOLK CONSTABULARY

AND

East Bergholt Parish Council
Unit 4CD
The Gattinetts Business Centre,
Hadleigh Road,
East Bergholt
CO7 6QT

DATED:

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SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT

1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 This Service Level Agreement (‘the Agreement’) sets out the principal terms governing
the provision to Sponsor of the services of a funded Police Community Support Officer
(PCSO).

1.2 The Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to
its subject matter and supersedes all prior agreements, representations and
understandings of the parties, written or oral.

2 PARTIES AGREEMENT

2.1 The Agreement is made on the date of this agreement

BETWEEN:-

(a) The Chief Constable of Suffolk Constabulary
Police Headquarters
Portal Avenue
Martlesham
Ipswich
Suffolk
IP5 3QS

Hereinafter referred to as ‘The Chief Constable’

And

(b) East Bergholt Parish Council
Unit 4CD
The Gattinetts Business Centre,
Hadleigh Road,
East Bergholt
CO7 6QT
Hereinafter referred to as the ‘Sponsor’.

2 RECITALS

Whereas;

(a) the Chief Constable (which expression herein shall always include his/her delegated
authority) is responsible for the policing of Suffolk by Suffolk Constabulary and employs
PCSOs for that purpose.

(b) a PCSO is a uniformed but non warranted police staff employee who is designated
with powers by the Chief Constable as stated in Section 38 of the Police Reform
Act 2002 (as amended).

(c) the Chief Constable shall at all times reserve the right to exercise operational direction
and maintain operational control over the deployment of a PCSO.

(d) subject to that right the Chief Constable has agreed to make available to the Sponsor
the provision of fully funded PCSO services. Such services are subject to the terms

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of the Agreement and may include provision of those PCSOs within their probationary
period.

(e) whilst ensuring that he/she shall deploy funded PCSO services in a way that is
consistent with the priority demands of his/her policing area, the Chief Constable shall,
where possible, deploy the PCSO in the area as identified within the Agreement.

(f) any abstraction or redeployment of a PCSO by the Chief Constable outside that area
will be proportionate, and only due to unforeseen operational demands based on local
strategic assessment, and shall be in a manner that is suitable to the conditions of the
policing area.

3 COMMENCEMENT AND TERM

3.1 In consideration for the payments set out in clause 11 below, the Chief Constable has
agreed to make available 0.5 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) PCSOs to the Ipswich West
and Hadleigh CPT that polices the East Bergholt area for the duration of the
Agreement. Appendix A refers to the deployable ward areas which may be amended
by the Sponsor from time to time acting fairly and reasonably

3.2 The Agreement is effective from the commencement date of date 2026 and will
continue until date 2028 unless and until terminated by either party pursuant to the
provisions set out in clause 15.

4 SERVICE DELIVERY

4.1 Core PCSO Role

4.1.1 All core functions required of the PCSO shall comply with the terms and conditions
outlined in the National Policing Police Community Support Officer Operational
Handbook (June 2015) (‘the Handbook’).

4.1.2 The fundamental role of the PCSO is to contribute to the policing of neighbourhoods
through visible patrol with the purpose of reassuring the public, increasing orderliness
in public places, being accessible to communities and working at a local level with
partner agencies. The role includes:

• undertaking public-facing duties in uniform
• being visible in the communities on foot or cycle patrol (vehicle if rural community)
• dealing with antisocial behaviour (ASB), low-level crime and incidents, local
problems/priorities and quality of life issues
• supporting and improving services to victims and vulnerable people
• conducting community engagement and problem-solving activity
• All agreed roles and responsibilities to take place within the boundary of East
Bergholt as per the below map

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4.1.3 To ensure that the fundamental role of the PCSO is not undermined, it will not be
considered their core responsibility to;

• Undertake crime investigations as an officer in case or manage volume crime
investigations, unless pursuant to the enforcement of PSPOs or other designated
powers.
• To act as a primary conduit for crime reporting or recording.
• To act as a loss prevention measure where the responsibilities would ordinarily be
assumed by others (i.e. Store Security).

4.2 Additional PCSO priorities

4.2.1 The Sponsor, subject to the Chief Constable’s right to maintain ultimate operational
discretion (refer Recital (c)), may assign a PCSO with additional priorities provided that
these are compatible with the Handbook.

4.2.2 All additional priorities must conform with the designated powers legally available to a
PCSO as stated in Section 38 Police Reform Act 2002 (as amended).

4.2.3 The additional priorities of the PCSO role and responsibilities include:
Parking – address reported parking obstruction issues (opposite/too close to junctions,
fully obstructing pathways) under the jurisdiction of Suffolk Constabulary including ad-
hoc visits to the schools (8am-9am and 3pm-4pm) and issue advice/notices where
appropriate

Street pop up engagements to be undertaken as/when required on a rotating basis to
maintain a visible presence in the community and to assist with engagement with the
residents of East Bergholt and the identification of issues directly impacting members
of the public.

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Weekly engagements in Community Hubs within East Bergholt to give members of the
public the opportunity to meet and discuss matters of concern.

Reports to be inserted into the East Bergholt Parish Council Newsletter detailing items
of interest / concern to the residents of East Bergholt

Constabulary attendance at the Annual Parish Meeting venue/format to be advised

Constabulary attendance at the Parish Council Monthly Meetings to address issues that
have been noted in advance by the Sponsor.

5 DESIGNATED POWERS

5.1 The Chief Constable agrees to make available to the Sponsor a PCSO designated with
the full range of standard powers as set out in Section 38 of the Police Reform Act
2002 (as amended). It shall be the Sponsor’s responsibility to deploy a PCSO
accordingly.

6 EMPLOYMENT

6.1 The Chief Constable shall be responsible for the recruitment, induction, training, daily
operational tasking, and all associated management arrangements of the PCSOs
employment by him/her.

6.2 PCSOs must comply with the terms and conditions set out in their employment
contract.

6.3 The Chief Constable retains the right to terminate the employment of any PCSO who
is subject to misconduct proceedings or performance monitoring within the process
outlined in Constabulary policy.

7 HOURS OF EMPLOYMENT

7.1 The core hours of work for a PCSO will be a standard shift pattern between the hours
of 08:00 and 18:00 Monday to Sunday.

7.2 Whilst the PCSO shall be subject to core hours of work (refer clause 7.1) the Sponsor
may request a change in shift pattern either on a temporary or permanent basis to
accommodate the PCSO working outside the core hours (e.g., bank holiday working).

7.3 The Chief Constable shall use his/her reasonable endeavours to accommodate such
requests. However, these cannot be guaranteed as they are subject to PCSO
availability.

7.4 The Sponsor shall be responsible for payment of costs for any additional hours worked
or hours accrued outside the PCSO standard shift pattern. For the avoidance of doubt,
any additional hours worked as a result of a police deployment shall not be borne by
the Sponsor.

8 UNIFORM AND EQUIPMENT

8.1 The Chief Constable shall provide the nationally agreed standard PCSO uniform and
appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for the dedicated use of the PCSOs
supplied under the Agreement.

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8.2 The Chief Constable shall provide all communications and other equipment
appropriate to the role for the dedicated use of the PCSOs supplied under the
Agreement.

8.3 Any uniform and or equipment supplied for the dedicated use of the PCSO shall be
included within the cost to the Sponsor but shall remain the property of Suffolk
Constabulary.

9 TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT

9.1 Any PCSO newly appointed to the Constabulary will be subject to an initial probationary
period of six months, during which time they will be required to meet the required
levels of performance as outlined in the terms and conditions of their employment
contract. If they fail to meet the required standard, this probationary period may be
extended as the Chief Constable deems appropriate.

9.2 A PCSO will receive an initial learning/training programme followed by four weeks of
mentoring. Performance monitoring will take place throughout the period of training to
ensure that the PCSO is meeting the required standard.

9.3 The PCSO shall only be deployed to the role, as set out in the Agreement, once the
Chief Constable is satisfied that he/she is suitable, competent, and adequately trained
to carry out the core role and any additional priorities of the Sponsor.

10 TRANSPORT

10.1 National policy states that the fundamental role of the PCSO is to remain highly visible
to the public and accessible within their communities, patrolling the area of deployment
as stated in the Agreement, on foot or by bicycle. If however the area of deployment
requested by the Sponsor is such that use of a police vehicle is required by the PCSO,
the Chief Constable agrees to consider at his discretion the provision of a suitable
vehicle for the PCSO’s use.

10.2 If a police vehicle is provided as aforesaid, the Sponsor shall agree to pay 50% of the
additional cost at £2,500 per annum.

11 FUNDING AND PAYMENT SCHEDULE

11.1 For the period from date 2026 to 31
st
March 2027, the Sponsor(s) agrees to pay the
Chief Constable 50% of the full economic cost recovery rate which is £26,125 (the full
economic cost recovery rate being £52,330) under the hours set out in clause 7.1 (“the
basic cost”) for the provision of each PCSO plus any additional sums payable for hours
worked outside core hours as set out in clause 11.4 below.

For the period from 1
st
April 2027 to 31
st
March 2028, the Sponsor(s) agrees to pay the
Chief Constable:

a. 50% of the full economic cost recovery rate which is £26,125 (the full economic
cost recovery rate being £52,330) under the hours set out in clause 7.1 (“the basic
cost”).

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b. 50 % of any cost (which is yet to be determined) to cover the nationally agreed pay
increase of the basic cost and additional hours worked in accordance with clause
11.2 for the provision of each PCSO.

c. 50% of additional sums payable for hours worked outside core hours as set out in
accordance with clause 11.4 below.

That sum shall be payable in advance by BACS to the Constabulary in six monthly
intervals (clause 11.6), and includes:

(a) provision for basic salary
(b) uniform and equipment costs
(c) contribution towards the cost of training
(d) weekend and location payments
(e) standard pay increases, employers’ National Insurance Contributions and Local
Government Pension Scheme Contributions

11.2 The basic cost and hours worked outside of core hours in accordance with clause 11.4
shall be subject to change based on actual variations in the stated costs such as pay
increases and additional employer pension contributions. In the event that this is
applicable the Chief Constable will notify the Sponsor as soon as this is known, and
the Sponsor shall be liable for the additional costs arising from these regulated
increases for the duration of the Agreement.

11.3 In addition to the total cost of a PCSO, as set out above, if a police vehicle is required,
the Sponsor agrees to pay the additional cost for the provision of a police vehicle of
£2,500 per annum which shall be invoiced at the commencement date of the
Agreement and again on the anniversary date of the Agreement. This cost will be split
with another partner at 50% of £5,000 (£2,500).

11.4 In addition to the basic cost of each PCSO, the Sponsor shall pay 50% for the provision
of any additional hours of work required outside the PCSO core hours (refer clause
7.1, 7.2). The hourly rates are:

(a) Plain Time. Additional hours after 1800 (end of core hours) and up to 1900
hours Monday to Friday – £25.36 per hour.

(b) Time & Half. Additional hours between the hours of 1900 and 0700 hours
Monday to Friday and weekend working – £38.04 per hour.

(c) Double Time. Bank holiday working – £50.73 per hour.

(d) Any additional hours worked outside core hours (refer clause 11.4) will be
calculated on a case by case basis and itemised on the following six monthly
invoice.

11.5 Payment is to be made by BACs and in accordance with the Chief Constable’s terms
of payment within 30 days. Details are provided on the invoice.

12 ABSENCE / ABSTRACTION PRO RATA REBATE

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12.1 The Sponsor will be entitled to a pro rata rebate in the following circumstances:

(a) in the event of prolonged absence of the deployed PCSO due to employee
sickness. The pro rata rebate shall be applicable only for periods of sickness which
exceed 28 consecutive working days.

(b) where the PCSO has been abstracted from the deployed area at the instigation of
the Chief Constable due to operational priorities, in circumstances where it has
not been possible to replace him/her.

(c) in the event of maternity/paternity/adoption leave entitlement in line with
Constabulary policy.

(d) in the event of termination of employment of the PCSO due to disciplinary
measures, and/or performance/attendance issues.

12.2 Rebates will not be paid to cover a PCSO’s annual leave entitlement.

13 Not used

14 MONITORING AND EVALUATION

14.1 The Chief Constable and the Sponsor shall:

(a) hold quarterly local review meetings with the CPT Inspector commencing no
earlier than 3 months after the commencement date of the Agreement, and
thereafter at quarterly intervals for the duration of the Agreement.

(b) hold contractual review meetings at six monthly intervals for the duration of the
Agreement.

(c) at six months’ prior to the expiry date of the Agreement at the contractual review
meeting the Sponsor will be expected to give a firm indication as to whether it
wishes to renew the Agreement.

14.2 During the Agreement, the Locality Inspector responsible for the CPT in which the
PCSO shall be based will provide management information on the performance of the
PCSO.

14.3 Sponsor monitoring requirements

• The Sponsor and CPT Inspector/Sergeant will agree monitoring processes for
this role, and these will be reviewed at regular intervals (a minimum of three
months).
• Monitoring measures will be proportionate to overall delivery against priorities.
• The PCSO will be required to record and provide regular data to support
monitoring to the Locality Inspector.
• The Locality Inspector will be accountable for monitoring and will report to the
sponsor at agreed intervals (a minimum of three months).
• During the Agreement, on a monthly basis, report as to the hours spent within
the footprint of the parish and how many outside of the parish along with
reasons for extraction.

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• The Locality Inspector will act on behalf of this role in any public or sponsor
meeting or can designate as appropriate.

15 TERMINATION

15.1 The Sponsor must give the Chief Constable six months’ prior written notice to
terminate the Agreement.

15.2 In the event of termination by the Sponsor pursuant to clause 15.1 then:

(a) the Sponsor shall continue to be liable for the basic cost and the additional
costs of the PCSO(s) supplied under the Agreement during the notice period
(refer clause 11)
(b) the Chief Constable shall use all reasonable endeavours to re-deploy the
PCSO(s) during the notice period but in the event that this is not possible, the
Sponsor shall be responsible for the costs of dismissal/termination of his/her
employment including:
(i) any reasonable costs of re-training; and/or
(ii) any statutory redundancy payments that relate to the period of employment
under the Agreement; and/or
(iii) any pension strain costs that relate to the period of employment under the
Agreement;
(iv) any other reasonable and identified costs associated with the early termination
of the Agreement by the Sponsor.

15.3 Subject to either party’s right to terminate the Agreement immediately in the event of:

(a) a fundamental breach of the Agreement by the other party (including, by way
of an example only, any offence under the Bribery Act 2010, or any legislation
having a similar effect);

(b) a material failure by the other party to comply with its obligations pursuant to
the Agreement

the Chief Constable must give the Sponsor six months’ prior written notice to
terminate the Agreement. Where this Agreement is terminated pursuant to 15.3 the
Sponsor will be entitled to a pro rata rebate.

16 INDEMNITY

16.1 The Chief Constable shall indemnify and keep indemnified the Sponsor against all
liabilities, costs, expenses, damages and losses incurred by the Sponsor arising out of
or in connection with the Chief Constable’s breach or negligent performance or non-
performance of the Agreement.

16.2 The indemnity above shall not apply, or shall be reduced in extent by a fair and
reasonable proportion as determined by the Chief Constable acting reasonably, where
the liabilities, costs, expenses, damages and losses (in whole or in part) incurred by

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the Sponsor have been caused or contributed to by, or arise from, any breach,
negligent performance or non-performance by the Sponsor of its obligations pursuant
to the Agreement.

16.3 The Chief Constable’s aggregate liability to the Sponsor for all claims, losses or
damages, whether arising from tort (including negligence), breach of statutory duty, or
otherwise, arising under or in connection with the Agreement (including the indemnity
given above) shall be limited to a maximum public liability of £10 million.

17 Variation of the Role

17.1 The Chief Constable shall, subject to the Sponsors consent, have the right to vary the
core role and additional priorities to be undertaken by PCSOs supplied under the
Agreement. Such a change is hereinafter called ‘a Variation’.

17.2 In the event that the Sponsor is unable to accept the Variation reasonably directed by
the Chief Constable in accordance with clause 17.1 above, the parties may terminate
the Agreement immediately and the sponsor entitled to a pro rata rebate.

18 Force Majeure

18.1 The Chief Constable reserves the right to defer performance of his/her obligations
under the Agreement and/or to terminate the Agreement if he/she is delayed or
prevented in the implementation of the Agreement through any circumstances beyond
his/her reasonable control.

18.2 Without prejudice to the generality of clause 18.1 above the following shall be included
as causes beyond the Chief Constable’s reasonable control:

(a) governmental actions, war or threat of war, national emergency, riot, civil
disturbance, sabotage or requisition;

(b) act of God, fire, explosion, flood, epidemic or accident;

(c) import or export regulations or embargoes; or

(d) operational demands requiring deployment of the PCSO elsewhere, outside the
terms of the Agreement.

19 The Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 (“1999 Act”)

19.1 No person who is not a party to the Agreement (including without limitation any
employee, officer, agent, representative, or sub-contractor of either the Chief
Constable or the Sponsor) shall have any right to enforce any term of the Agreement,
which expressly or by implication, confers a benefit on him without the prior agreement
in writing of both parties. This clause does not affect any right or remedy of any person
which exists or is available otherwise than pursuant to the 1999 Act.

20 Freedom of Information Act 2000 (“2000 Act”)

20.1 Each of the parties are a public authority to which the 2000 Act applies. The parties
are obliged to consider written requests for information from members of the public and
must disclose the requested information unless an exemption is available under the
2000 Act. In response to a request for information the parties may be required to
confirm or deny he/she holds information to the applicant.

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20.2 The parties must each respond to requests for information by the 20
th
(twentieth)
working day after the request is received and, whilst the receiving party may consult
with the other party (but will not necessarily do so) about specific requests, any such
consultation may have to be completed within a very short timescale. Accordingly,
each party must consider whether any of the information supplied by the other (or
relating to the other party) in this exercise falls within one or more of the exemptions
contained in the 2000 Act. If the either party considers any such exemption to exist,
then he/she shall set out in detail, at the earliest opportunity, the particular information
to which any exemption is said to apply and the specific grounds for contending that
the exemption exists.

20.3 Each party shall provide the other with all reasonable assistance and co-operation to
enable he/she to comply with any requests for information received under the 2000 Act
within the prescribed time limits.

21 General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA)

21.1 The Chief Constable collects and uses personal, special category data (sensitive
personal information) and criminal offence data so that the Constabulary can carry out
its legal and legitimate functions as defined by legislation, common law regulation,
policy and best practice.

21.2 Information is handled in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation
(GDPR) and Data Protection Act 2018, which sets out the principles of good
information handling practice and governs the fair and lawful processing, maintenance
and security of data.

22 Notices

22.1 Notices to be served on either party shall be in writing.

22.2 Any notice to either party shall be deemed to be sufficiently served if given or left in
writing at his/her usual or last known place of abode or business and proof of postage
by recorded delivery, or delivery by hand, of any notice to either party at his/her usual
or last known place of abode or business shall be sufficient evidence of its receipt by
him/her.

23 Governing Law

The Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with English law
and the parties submit to the jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

24. Variation

No amendment or variation of this Agreement shall be effective unless it is in writing
and signed by the Parties (acting through their Representatives) and is expressed to
be for the purpose of such amendment or variation.
25. Dispute Resolution
25.1 The Parties shall resolve Disputes arising out of or in connection with this Agreement
in accordance with the procedure set out in Clauses 25.2 below.

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25.2 The Parties shall attempt, in good faith, to resolve any Dispute promptly by negotiation
which shall be conducted as follows:

(a) the Dispute shall be referred, by either Party, to the Locality Inspector and
nominated officer of the Sponsor for resolution;
(b) if the Dispute cannot be resolved in accordance with clause 25.2.1 within 14 days
after the Dispute has been referred to them, either Party may give notice to the
other Party in writing (a Dispute Notice) that a Dispute has arisen; and

(c) within seven days of the date of the Dispute Notice, each Party shall refer the
Dispute to the Operational Commander and senior officer of the Sponsor for
resolution.

26. Warranties
26.1 Each of the parties represents and warrants that:

(a) they have full capacity and authority to enter into and to perform its
obligations under this Agreement;
(b) there are no actions, suits or proceedings or regulatory investigations
before any court or administrative body or arbitration tribunal pending or,
to its knowledge, threatened against it that might adversely affect its ability
to perform their obligations under this Agreement;
(c) they have not done, and in performing its obligations under this Agreement,
it shall not do, any act or thing that contravenes the Bribery Act 2010 or
any other applicable anti-bribery or anti-money laundering laws and/or
regulations and it has maintained and monitored, and will maintain and
monitor, policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are
reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance with the
Bribery Act 2010 and related applicable Laws.

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SIGNATURES

Signed by the parties (or on their behalf by their respective authorised representatives) on
the date indicated above.
THE CHIEF CONSTABLE of SUFFOLK CONSTABULARY :

[PRINT NAME]

SIGNED by………………………….Date………………….…

(Authorising Signatory)

SIGNED For and behalf of East Bergholt Parish Council

………………………………………………….

Name:

Position

A copy of the completed and signed Agreement shall be sent to:

Suffolk Constabulary East Bergholt Parish Council
Unit 4CD
The Gattinetts Business Centre,
Hadleigh Road,
East Bergholt
CO7 6QT
Police Headquarters
Portal Avenue
Martlesham
Ipswich
Suffolk
IP5 3QS

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APPENDIX A

The areas of responsibility for this role are as defined by the coloured areas in totality, however
the role may be directed to focus on any one specific area as according to the priorities set.