Safety Through Strength Annual Report 2024-25 - Page 2

The report not only graded our force as outstanding in certain areas and improved our gradings from the previous PEEL inspection, it also specially identified areas of practice across the force as ‘promising’ and ‘innovative’ and of that I am extremely proud. I continue to lead Lancashire Constabulary in ensuring our refreshed Plan on a Page, alongside the Police and Crime Plan, remains at the heart of all that we do in Lancashire Constabulary.

2024 saw reductions in domestic abuse incidents, residential burglary offences and in the number of casualties in road traffic collisions. The force also has a positive outcome rate for all crimes of over 21%, a 4% increase on the previous year. We hold the second highest positive outcome rate in England & Wales.

Communities continue to see the impact of Operation Centurion and Operation Grip tackling ASB and violence. Officers are visible in communities targeting those who commit ASB. Victims of crime receive a professional response to their call, and organised criminals using our roads are now targeted day in day out by the Roads Crime Team.

The proportion of positive outcomes in rape cases stands at 8.5% compared with 10.5% last year end, however we have seen a 16.6% increase in victims reporting crimes this year end. The national (England and Wales) average for positive outcomes for rape is 6%. Violence against woman and girls (VAWG) has been the subject of additional training for all officers, and our VAWG scrutiny panel continues to provide independent scrutiny of our response. Our additional training initiative launched early 2024 has been delivered to all frontline police officers and has demonstrated a positive effect on our quality of service to domestic abuse victims.

Lancashire Constabulary has continued to support several local, national, and regional policing operations with specialist resources. Our response to the tragic incident in Southport during 2024 and the subsequent protests and incidents of disorder in Lancashire and beyond was exceptional. It was an incredibly challenging time for our officers and staff members across the force whose professionalism and dedication in keeping communities safe from harm is hugely appreciated by both the force and the communities themselves. Whilst the awful attacks happened in Southport, the offender and his family lived in Banks, which is just over the border in Lancashire and our staff spent a lot of time in this area over the summer period whilst the protracted search operations progressed. We know our interactions with the offender will be the subject of scrutiny, and I welcome the opportunity for them to be examined through a different lens during the ongoing public inquiry. We would expect nothing less due to the nature and level of the trauma inflicted on so many people. I want to acknowledge the pain that the families of Elsie Dot, Bebe and Alice must endure every day. Our hearts and prayers are with them as they continue to grieve and heal. I know many of our officers and staff have been deeply affected by what has happened by this horrific incident.

The ASB, Prevention and Problem-Solving Command which includes specialists in problem solving, civil enforcement, designing out crime, rural and business crime and civil enforcement are now well established across the force. The team continue to support officers and staff across the County, implementing sustainable solutions to recurring issues. During 2024, problem-solving operations have targeted anti-social behaviour, burglary, drug dealing and vehicle nuisance. The dedication and commitment of the teams was rightly recognised by HMICFRS during the PEEL inspection, grading the force as ‘outstanding’ in prevention and deterrence. We are one of only two forces in England and Wales to have been awarded this grading and have attracted other forces to visit us to enable us to share good practise across the country.

Our annual POP awards were held in January 2025 with many deserving winners across the force picking up POP awards for problem solving in ASB reduction, Clear Hold Build and crime reduction.

Lancashire Constabulary’s commitment and dedication to tackling serious and organised crime through Operation Warrior continues. Since the launch, the Constabulary has achieved significant arrests and imprisonment for organised criminals. Our determined partnership approach has taken thousands of pounds out of the hands of criminals to reinvest back into policing our communities. We continue to work with our safeguarding partners to protect our most vulnerable who suffer because of serious organised crime.

Our fundamental changes to the way we allocate and investigate crimes across Lancashire, ensure an effective and efficient method of crime recording, allocation, investigation, and closure, that keeps the victim at the heart of our processes. In addition to the 2024 PEEL inspection by HMICFRS, we have also engaged with regular external thematic inspections and incorporated the learning from these into continuous improvement. These have included two Joint Targeted Area Inspections (JTAI) into the multi-agency response to identification of initial need and risk in Blackpool and to serious youth violence in Blackburn with Darwen. We are also the pilot force, working with HMICFRS to allow them to test their inspection methodology of their new Victim Service Assessment review, renamed Quality Service Review which will provide valuable insight into the new inspection process and receive feedback to learn and improve. The last year has seen changes to our Chief Officer Team, with the appointments to Deputy Chief Constable of Sam Mackenzie and Assistant Chief Constable Mark Winstanley, and Assistant Chief Constable Stasia Osiowy all of whom have served Lancashire Constabulary throughout their policing careers. Also, we welcome Assistant Chief Constable Gareth Lee to our force. The Chief Officer team led by myself bring a wealth of experience and knowledge and I look forward to the year ahead as Chief Constable, working together to ensure we deliver an outstanding service for our communities.

Chief Constable
Sacha Hatchett