Performance and Measurement

Summary

Lancashire has a population of 1.4 million. The area is split into six policing divisions which align with district councils, unitary authorities and crime and disorder reduction partnerships.

Force objectives for 2006/07 are to reassure the public, particularly those who are vulnerable, and to reduce and investigate crime, particularly those offences that are of concern to the public.

Major achievements include the force being graded ‘green’ in every area of the national readiness assessment for neighbourhood policing. It has also embarked on an extensive quality of service programme and has recently launched its diversity strategy, which pulls together all the external and internal work across the six strands of diversity. The Crime and Disorder Act has been used extensively to progress action against offenders through Anti-Social Behaviour Orders and partnerships. Premises considered a nuisance to the community through association with Class A drug activity have been closed, and a successful campaign has been run to focus on the crime that often results from excessive drinking.

Future challenges include curbing the use of violence in drug markets, particularly the criminal use of firearms, witness intimidation and assaults. Intelligence gaps need to be addressed in illegal immigration and the laundering of the proceeds of organised immigration crime, as well as the production and distribution of false and counterfeit identity documents. There is also a growing demand to support partner organisations, particularly the Serious Organised Crime Agency.

For further information see the full baseline assessment.