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Lancashire Constabulary
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Lancashire Constabulary | |
 Lancashire Constabulary area |
|
| Coverage | |
|---|---|
| Area | Lancashire |
| Size | 2,903 |
| Population | 1,500,000 |
| Operations | |
| Formed | 1974 |
| HQ | Hutton, Preston |
| Budget | {{{budget}}} |
| Officers | 3,554 |
| Divisions | 8 |
| Stations | 36 |
| Chief Constable | Steve Finnigan |
 |
|
| Website | Lancashire Constabulary |
Lancashire Constabulary is the Home Office police force responsible for policing the ceremonial county of Lancashire in the North West England. The force's headquarters are at Hutton, near the city of Preston. The force has over 3,000 officers as well as 500 Police Community Support Officers.
Contents |
After many complaints over a number of years over the crime ridden state of Lancashire it was decided in 1839 that a combined county police force was required to police the county. In the same year the force was founded and Captain John Woodford was made Chief Constable with 2 Assistant Chief Constables, 14 Superintendents and 660 Constables.
Over the next 50 years the Police force saw many changes including the introduction of the Police Helmet and, during the 1860s, the force lost its first officer, PC Jump, who died after being shot by a group of men that he and a colleague were searching. By the end of the century the force had developed a detective department who where allowed to wear plain clothes.
In 1917 the force first allowed female officers although it was only up until the 1950s when they were allowed uniforms and it would be up until the 1970s when the there pay was levelled to the rate of their male counterparts. Also in 1948 the force's dog section was established with many differing breeds being used but by the 1950s it was established that the German Shepherd was the most suitable.
The force then went through major changes in the 1970s when the force was reduced to cover the new re-bordered Lancashire with the other areas coming under the jurisdiction of Greater Manchester Police and Merseyside Police.
On Wednesday 10th October 2007 the Home Office announced that Lancashire Constabulary had ranked joint first, with Surrey, out of 43 forces by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabularies. All 43 Police forces were assessed on seven areas - tackling crime, serious crime, protecting vulnerable people, satisfaction, neighbourhood policing, local priorities and resources and efficiency.
The force is split into eight divisions, six geographical and two based at the Force HQ at Hutton. However, the split is approximate, and divisions are deliberately vague, giving a seamless approach to policing in the Lancashire area. The geographical divisions and their headquarters are as follows:
- Western (A Division)
- The headquarters are in Blackpool from where this division is responsible for the Fylde area stretching from Bispham down to Kirkham.
- Northern (B Division)
- The headquarters are in Lancaster it is also assigned with the policing of Morecambe, Heysham and the northern Fylde area.
- Southern (C Division)
- The headquarters are in Leyland from where this division is assigned to police the South Ribble, Chorley and
West Lancashire areas.
- Central (D Division)
- This division is primarily assigned to police the city of Preston.
- Eastern (E Division)
- Primarily assigned to Police the Blackburn, Ribble Valley and Accrington areas.
- Pennine (F Division)
- Assigned to Police the Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale areas.
- G Division
- Headquarters
- H Division
- Operations Support and Operations Planning. Encompasses Motorway, Armed Response, Air Support, Mounted and various other functions.
The constabulary has 36 full-time stations across the county with over 100 further police posts and smaller village stations. Although the county has this large number of stations less than half have adequate provisions to hold prisoners. The training of student officers is undertaken at five sites, HQ (Hutton), Rawtenstall, Fleetwood, Skelmersdale and Morecambe. In addition, specialist training and certain sections such as the dog and mounted are based at the Force's HQ at Hutton.
The routine patrol officer is not armed but does carry a baton, a PAVA incapacitant spray, and handcuffs. All officers and civilian members of staff are required to wear a stab vest when on duty and "not in an office environment"; most choose to wear their vest at all times. Although officers are not routinely armed, Lancashire has several Armed Response Teams carrying G36 assault rifles, Glock pistols and Taser guns.
In terms of vehicular transport the standard patrol car for many years has been the Vauxhall Astra with over 170 in service across the county. The force also uses specialist vehicles for traffic policing such as the Vauxhall Vectra and the Volvo S60. The force also is equipped with a number of 4x4 vehicles which are used for various roles. These include the Land Rover Discovery, Range Rover and the Mercedes-Benz M-Class. Vans such as the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and the Ford Transit are also widely used across the force.
The force also operates a EC135 helicopter based at BAE Warton, the Helicopter is available to reach any part of Lancashire within 15 minutes. The force has had an ASU since 1993 when it fielded a Eurocopter Squirrel but this was retired in the early 2000s as it was replaced by the newer EC 135. The ASU is primarily there to assist ground forces as well as provide evidence and surveillance where is needed.
The Force's motorway policing unit has headquarters at Samlesbury near Preston. The unit is led by a single Inspector who in turn is responsible for 7 Sergeants and 43 Police Constables. The unit uses Land Rover Discoverys and Volvo S60s. Each of the unit's vehicles is equipped with an in-car video system, an ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) system and a stolen vehicle tracker system. The unit also operates a vehicle checking station at Cuerden between Chorley and Preston on the M65, this is done in co-operation with VOSA.
Due to police officers in the county not being routinely armed the force has its own specialised firearms unit based at locations around the county. The force has at any one time has 12 armed officers on patrol as well as providing armed officers to patrol Blackpool Airport. The standard issue weapon is the Glock SLP whilst officers are also armed with the Heckler & Koch G36 assault rifle. Tasers are also carried by Armed Response Officers.
Under proposals made by the Home Secretary on February 6, 2006, it was to have be merged with Cumbria Constabulary. These were accepted by both forces on February 26, and the merger would have taken place on April 1, 2007.[1]. However, in July 2006, both Cumbria and Lancashire Constabularies decided not to proceed with the merger, due to difficulties over funding and start-up costs.
Over recent years, Lancashire Constabulary has developed a reputation for leading the way in Intelligence Analysis and holds an annual Intelligence Analysis conference in Blackpool attended by a large number of analysts from other UK police forces and law enforcement agencies.
- Policing in the United Kingdom
- GRIP (Group Intervention Panel)
- Operation Tremor
- Operation Summer Nights
- Road Policing Unit
- Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service