Lancashire Constabulary praised
Figures released by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services show that Lancashire Constabulary received 376 calls for assistance per 1,000 people in the 12 months to 30 June 2017, well over the national average of 282. Only the Metropolitan Police in London received more calls at 416 per 1,000.
Clive Grunshaw said, “Inspectors have been clear that in Lancashire the police are doing a good job at keeping people safe and acting to reduce crime. However, the savings we still have to make and the demands being placed on the force continue to put a significant strain on the service.
“We are seeing more and more people contacting the police and, having seen the demand on the contact centre, I am not surprised Lancashire is one of the busiest forces in the country.
“I have said repeatedly that we are seeing the result of cuts to services across the public sector, which many of the most vulnerable people in Lancashire rely on. When people reach crisis point there is often no other safety net, meaning the police are increasingly the emergency service of first resort.
“Staff and officers deserve praise for the work they are doing under this extreme pressure. However, the Government needs to understand the impact that austerity in policing, and throughout the public sector is having, leaving officers to pick up the pieces when people’s lives fall apart.”
Notes:
The full report for Lancashire Constabulary is available through the HMICFRS website – https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmicfrs/
