I am very pleased with the overall performance of Lancashire Constabulary.
Lancashire Constabulary has an effective approach to preventing crime and reducing anti-social behaviour. The force communicates well with the people of Lancashire, has effective partnership arrangement with other organisations, and has a sound understanding of the public’s concerns. Officers and staff are directed towards the most significant threats and they respond effectively.
While there is some evidence of effective problem solving, the force would benefit from re-introducing a more structured approach to encourage greater consistency and to help identify what works. The force plans to adopt a ‘place-based policing’ model, in which it will work closely with partner organisations at a very local level in taking early action to prevent crime and other social problems.
I am reassured that Lancashire Constabulary investigates crime to a high standard. The initial stages of an investigation are good and specialist staff are suitably trained and provide appropriate support to response officers. Lancashire Constabulary is good at protecting the public from the most prolific, serious and dangerous offenders and has a good approach to the tracking and pursuit of known offenders.
I am pleased that the force continues to tackle serious and organised crime effectively, involving officers and staff at all levels. The force shares information with a broad range of partner organisations, and this gives it a good understanding of localised threats.
Lancashire Constabulary is effective at protecting those who are vulnerable from harm and in supporting victims. The force generally identifies vulnerable victims well, but can do more to improve the consistency with which some aspects of vulnerability are identified during initial contact.
I am satisfied that Lancashire Constabulary has a good understanding of current and future demands for its services. It has a proven track record of making savings and prudent financial plans.
The force has a well-established change programme that considers current demands, and it is developing a detailed understanding of more complex demands and so-called hidden demands such as internet crime. The force understands the gaps in the skills and knowledge of the workforce. In particular, it intends to recruit people with the requisite skills for its ‘place-based policing’ approach.
The force’s analysis of the demand coming through its control room has allowed it to make its communications systems and processes more efficient.
The workforce has a good understanding of the importance of treating the public with fairness and respect. The force has well established arrangements in place to obtain feedback from the people of Lancashire and it is continuing to develop these. It gives complaints from the public careful consideration, and responds to them appropriately.
Internally, officers and staff understand the importance of treating one another with fairness and respect. The force has clear leadership expectations and values that place a strong emphasis on the well-being of the workforce.
In summary, the force provides a good level of service to the people of Lancashire. I am reassured that it is sustaining this level of performance.
Context
Lancashire Constabulary provides policing services to the county of Lancashire. Lancashire has a high level of poverty, although there are some highly affluent areas. The force area is home to around 1.5 million people, who mainly live in the city of Preston and the towns of Blackpool, Burnley and Blackburn.
The resident population is ethnically diverse, with 10 percent from black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, and is increased by university students and the very large numbers who visit, socialise, or travel through the county each year. The transport infrastructure includes 137 miles of motorway and trunk roads, major rail stations, air and sea ports.
The proportion of areas in Lancashire that are predicted (on the basis of detailed economic and demographic analysis) to present a very high challenge to the police is very high compared to the national average. The most challenging areas are generally characterised by a high concentration of people living, working, socialising, or travelling in the area.
Features which both cause and/or indicate a concentration of people include the number of commercial premises, including licensed premises and fast-food premises, public transport, and social deprivation. In some areas, these features are combined.
Working arrangements
Lancashire Constabulary works with a private sector partner on the provision of 20 custody services.
The force works in collaboration with Lancashire County Council to provide services such as payroll and pensions, and with Cumbria Constabulary to provide learning and development.
Looking ahead to 2017
In the year ahead, I will be interested to see how Lancashire Constabulary responds to this assessment and to the areas for improvement that HMIC identified last year.
I will be particularly interested to see the progress of the new ‘place-based policing’ model.
