Lancashire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Andrew Snowden, together with Chief Constable Chris Rowley gave Katherine Fletcher, MP for South Ribble, an insight into the work different teams across Lancashire Constabulary are doing to lead the fight against crime and keep her constituents and everyone across the county safe.
The visit comes after Members of Parliament were offered the chance to see for themselves the different, varied ways that the force works to take the fight to criminals and keep people safe.
Katherine was shown specialist units across the Constabulary, including dogs, drones, forensics, digital intelligence and the force control room, enabling her to see first-hand how Andrew’s investments are making a huge difference.
This includes the recruitment of hundreds of new officers through the police uplift programme, with the growth in neighbourhood policing teams and 25% increase in dog handlers examples of where this is already having an impact. Andrew has also overseen the reopening of several police front counters to the public, £700k into the county’s rural taskforces and more than 40 additional officers focusing on tackling rape and other sexual offences in new dedicated teams across Lancashire.
Andrew Snowden, Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire said:
“It’s been fantastic to again showcase the important, and often unseen, work that our diverse specialist teams of officers do across policing in Lancashire as we deliver on the priorities in my Fighting Crime Plan. This includes the use of drones to help gather evidence, disrupting drug gangs and finding missing people helping save lives, protect communities and saving hundreds of officer hours that can be spent on the front line instead.
“By offering an insight into the wider work of the force, this visit builds on Katherine’s excellent relationship with the local policing team in South Ribble that I’ve seen first hand having joined her and neighbourhood officers out on the streets, talking to people and hearing what they want to see from policing in their area.
“As I continue to lead the fight against crime and deliver on the issues that matter most to people, I will continue to work with our local MPs and the Chief Constable to ensure resources and investment are being utilised to keep Lancashire safe.”
Katherine Fletcher MP added:
“It was great meeting Chris Rowley, our Chief Constable, and Andrew Snowden, Lancashire Police & Crime Commissioner, hearing about how well Lancashire Police are doing. We’re really lucky here to have a top team steering our police force & brilliant officers on the ground keeping our communities safe.
“We’re really on the cutting edge of policing here, and it was great hearing about what plans Chris and Andrew have for going forwards and further improving on their work.”
ENDS
