Our Local Police Are Excellent

LANCASHIRE Constabulary has been rated as one of the strongest performing forces in England and Wales, according to the Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC).

As part of the new Police Report Card assessment, Lancashire is considered to be a 'beacon force' in both neighbourhood policing, and in delivering the Policing Pledge commitments to the public. The Constabulary has achieved reductions in crime over a number of years and has increased the levels of crime solved, especially for burglary and robbery.

The new HMIC Report Card scheme rates all of the 43 police forces across England and Wales, with the details published on a new website www.MyPolice.org.uk to be launched soon.

Lancashire is rated excellent for local crime and policing, fair for protection from serious harm and good for confidence and satisfaction.

The report identifies that the numbers of people killed or seriously injured on the county's roads, and the distribution and supply of drugs as areas for improvement.

These areas are already being addressed through activity, such as the road safety initiative known as Operation Pathway, and the targeting of drug activity at all levels, including neighbourhood policing teams, targeted crime units, and at the higher level, through Serious and Organised Crime Unit investigations, such as Operation Greengage, which led to jail sentences of almost 200 years for a drugs and firearms gang.

Chief Constable Steve Finnigan, who is also the national ACPO lead for Performance Management, said: "I am really pleased that Lancashire is, once again, one of the top performing forces across England and Wales, demonstrating our consistency and success in delivering excellent policing services.

"Whilst the Constabulary clearly welcomes the introduction of the Report Card and its overall findings for Lancashire, we are disappointed with the 'Fair' grading for Protection from Serious Harm. Even though this shows we are meeting the standard required (as judged by the HMIC Inspection), this grade strengthens our determination to continue to improve in this area.

"Protecting People is a force priority and one which we have invested heavily in over recent years.

"We will continue to strive towards providing improved services to the public of Lancashire, and we will never be complacent in our drive to make the county an ever safer place to be."

Chair of the Police Authority, Malcolm Doherty, said that the Police Report Card confirmed that people in Lancashire receive an excellent police service. He added: "This performance is even more impressive when you consider that Lancashire Constabulary has maintained its position as a top performing force for many years. Getting to the top is one thing, staying there is a magnificent achievement.

"No-one is complacent, and we will continue to call for even greater improvements in the firm belief that getting better never stops. However, official confirmation that Lancashire is one of the strongest performing forces is tremendously reassuring for our communities, and I hope gives them confidence that we never stop working to keep them even safer."

For more information about Lancashire Constabulary visit their website at www.lancashire.police.uk

Last Edited: 12/03/2010