Police and Crime Commissioner Andrew Snowden’s ambition for more visible front-line policing along with internal reviews being undertaken by the Chief Constable, will now see the hybrid model replaced with separate neighbourhood and response teams covering the area going forward.
Utilising the government uplift programme and the Commissioner’s precept will see an additional two sergeants and four dedicated neighbourhood officers covering the Fylde, allowing extra capacity for proactive police work.
The neighbourhood officers will work alongside the existing 12 police community support officers (PCSOs) to focus on engagement, problem solving and targeting work. The immediate response team will be made up of 3 sergeants and 15 officers – taking the total dedicated officers and PCSOs in Fylde to 36, backed up by the broader resources of West Division as needed.
Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner Andrew Snowden said: “It’s fantastic to see these changes come into action and it’s great news for Fylde residents.
“I pledged to invest in neighbourhood policing and to ensure access to a police front desk for each borough area of Lancashire as part of my campaign to become Police and Crime Commissioner. I am really happy to be able to deliver against the commitments I made when taking up this role.
“My number one priority is to lead the fight against crime in Lancashire and to tackle the issues that matter most to local residents including antisocial behaviour, dangerous driving and drug dealing. Strengthening neighbourhood policing and face to face access to officers is an important part of that and I am committed to working alongside the force to direct resources where they are needed and to tackle crime in our communities head on.”
Chief Insp Chris Barton added: “The additional officers in Fylde will provide extra capacity for proactive police work, including engagement, problem solving and targeting.
“These extra officers, along with the significant investment in our force control room and the opening of public access at Kirkham Police Station, will allow local residents to access our services easier and more conveniently.”
From Monday 22 November there will be one Sgt, two PCs and six PCSOs dedicated to Kirkham and rural Fylde and one Sgt, two PCs and six PCSOs dedicated to Lytham and St Annes. These officers are in addition to the response teams which cover the Fylde, responding to calls for service.
Kirkham front counter closed in 2018, alongside a number of other front counters across the county as part of a series of cost saving measures. The front counter will be open to members of the public Monday to Friday between 9am and 1pm. Please note the following services will not be available at Kirkham Police Station – the registration of sex offenders, producing documents requested by a police officer, reporting for bail or reclaiming seized vehicles.
