Lancashire Constabulary welcomed Nick Hurd MP, Minister of State for Policing and the Fire Service, on a visit on Tuesday where he met with Officers and Staff to hear about some of the work the force is doing around innovation, leadership, professional development and wellbeing.

Mr Hurd spoke to frontline officers and staff at Preston Ops Centre before visiting force headquarters at Hutton where he looked around the new Forensic Services Academy.

The Minister also met with Chief Constable Andy Rhodes, the national police lead for wellbeing, and the Police and Crime Commissioner, Clive Grunshaw, before leaving to spend the afternoon with Lancashire Fire & Rescue Service.

The visit was timed ahead of a Front Line Review (FLR) of policing which launches in September, sponsored by Mr Hurd. It will look specifically at four key themes: innovation in policing; leadership; professional development and wellbeing.

Chief Constable Andy Rhodes said: “We were extremely pleased to welcome Mr Hurd who came to see our work which has been recognised nationally as a good example in the four key areas emphasised in the Front Line Review.

“Given our work in these subjects, I have been invited to sit on the national FLR working group where I will ensure that the views of our officers are represented at a national level.”

Said the Minister: “Front line officers are the face of policing, and it’s important that their voices are heard in decisions taken by senior leaders.

“I’ve been impressed by the work of CC Andy Rhodes and Lancashire Constabulary in the areas of police wellbeing and professional development, and we will be looking to build on their experience in the Front Line Review.”

Following the FLR launch by the Minister in July and some initial digital activity over the summer, a period of open digital engagement will begin in September 2018, aimed at officers and staff up to and including Superintendent rank, followed by face-to-face engagement at regional focus groups from October 2018.

The findings of the review will be published in spring 2019.