Throughout the meeting, Police and Crime Commissioner Andrew Snowden scrutinised Chief Constable Chris Rowley and his Chief Officer Team about how the Constabulary is delivering efficient and effective policing and being visible and responsive to local communities while also discussing areas for improvement and what is being done to address them.
There were 5,185 fewer victims of crime in Lancashire over the last 12 months, a reduction on those from 2021/22 and also on the pre-pandemic baseline, with Lancashire one of only eight forces nationally to see a reduction in crime.
Latest national data also shows the Constabulary continues to achieve greater proportions of positive outcomes than the North West regional and National averages.
PCC Snowden questioned CC Rowley on the new policing model that will put resources in the right place so they can effectively respond to calls for service, investigate crime and focus on victim needs, from public interaction in the force control room, right through to how neighbourhood policing is structured. The changes will enable the Constabulary to better deliver against the priorities set out in the Commissioner’s Fighting Crime Plan and provide the visible policing presence residents want to see. The new model will also deliver a dedicated Roads Policing Unit and Roads Crime Team, denying criminals the use of the roads.
During the session, the Chief Constable outlined the force’s proactivity in taking the fight to criminals through significant force wide operations such as Op Warrior, which is seeing results in the fight against organised crime, including a recent seizure of over 200Kg of cocaine, Op Defender cracking down on burglary with a 4% reduction, and Op Vanquish targeting serious acquisitive crime and dangerous drivers.
Whilst acknowledging that there is more work to be done, they also discussed the increasing use of civil orders and the positive role these interventions are having, alongside arrests, in getting tough on anti-social behaviour, with support from local authorities.
The Commissioner’s regular accountability board forms a key part of the scrutiny he carries out as the public’s voice in policing, holding the Chief Constable to account for the delivery of policing in the county.
Speaking after the meeting, Andrew Snowden, Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire said:
“The fundamental role of policing, and measure of success is for fewer victims of crime and therefore I’m encouraged to see all crime continuing to reduce, alongside positive outcomes for victims. This is good news for the public of Lancashire.
“In leading the fight against crime, these meetings enable me to really get under the skin of policing in the county, look at what is going well, where we can do more and also how we can build on the latest HMICFRS inspection that identified Lancashire Constabulary as one of the best forces in the country.
“I continue to work closely with the Chief Constable between these meetings to ensure my Fighting Crime Plan is being delivered, and the voices of Lancashire residents are heard. This means criminals off the streets and behind bars, with our communities feeling safe and protected.”
