A private security firm has signed a contract to build, design and help run a police station.
G4S has signed the deal, thought to be the first of its kind, with Lincolnshire Police Authority in a move which could save the force £28 million, the firm said.
It comes amid concerns from the Police Federation that public sector staff could have a sense of duty which the private sector may not.
The police station, based on a hub-and-spoke design with 30 custody cells, will also be extendable in the event of major incidents or anticipated peaks in arrests and is expected to account for a "major proportion" of the savings, G4S said.
The station will also house up to 120 operational police staff and cut running costs by saving £5 million over the next 10 years.
From April 1, and for at least the next 10 years, G4S Policing Support Services will also provide Lincolnshire Police with administrative and operational services including human resources, IT, fleet management, custody services and firearms licensing.
A so-called "shared services centre" in Lincolnshire will effectively enable the force to sell on these services to other forces, G4S said.
Kim Challis, group managing director of G4S Government and Outsourcing Services, said: "Lincolnshire is leading the way in responding to the challenges of today's economic environment and this transformation project will mean many of the services provided by the police will now be delivered externally by specialists who can deliver greater savings and improve efficiency."
Barry Young, chairman of Lincolnshire Police Authority, said: "G4S shares our values and our ambition to maintain and improve services. It has the skills and the experience to help make a real difference to the way in which Lincolnshire is policed."
Simon Reed, vice-chairman of the Police Federation, said: "Our primary concern is the impact future private contracts will have on the flexibility of the police service. We would hope that officers are not left high and dry in times of national emergency. Police officers should not have to worry about inheriting additional workloads as a result of cuts or changes to the working conditions of support staff."
