The visit allowed Andrew to discuss with business owners how they can be further supported by the constabulary and reassure residents that officers are actively being recruited all the time, the constabulary on track to have recruited over 600 new officers by March 2023 through the police uplift programme.
Andrew specifically welcomed the opportunity to visit the Inspire Youth Centre, projects like these have shown themselves to be very successful in preventing and reducing anti-social behaviour within communities.
Similar projects have been funded through Andrew’s Safer Lancashire Neighbourhoods Fund. Established in 2021 during the unveiling of the Commissioner’s Police and Crime Plan, the fund uses cash seized by criminals through the Proceeds of Crime act to fund community projects that help tackle his five key priorities.
Andrew returned to Chorley after visiting earlier in the year to hear about targeted work to prevent ASB and engage those involved, with prevention supporting the increased enforcement that is aimed at keeping people safe.
Andrew Snowden, Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire, said:
“Whilst I continue to lead the fight against crime, supporting business owners and preventing retail crime is something I am very passionate about.
“Anti-social behaviour impacts most individuals in its forms, and youth provisions such as the Inspire Youth Centre help provide young people with a place they can feel safe and learn valuable skills to make them productive members of the community- keeping them off the streets and away from crime.
“These visits allow me to reassure residents that neighbourhood policing is a priority, and through the Police Uplift programme funded by the Home Office and topped up myself through precept we will see more police on the streets soon, helping take the fight to criminals and bring the perpetrators of these crimes to justice.”
