NPIA's online procurement process will launch today

The hub will be used by Lincolnshire police and be rolled out to all 43 forces by June 2012

The NPIA's online procurement process enabling police forces to buy specified goods and services online has launched today.

The service, described as an ‘Amazon style' web service, will allow the police service to select, purchase and pay for a range of approved goods and services - from 500 suppliers.

The NPIA claims the hub will save the service £30m over six years.

The Lincolnshire Police force will be the first to use the National Police Procurement Hub.

This service will enable collective procurement, thereby harnessing the considerable buying power of the police service in order to lower costs and improve supplier relationships.

It will also be more efficient in terms of billing and processing, because these activities will be done through a central point.

The initiative has been created in partnership with electronic procurement specialists ProcServe.

All 43 forces in the UK will be expected to use the hub by June 2012.