Latest news from Lancashire Constabulary:

HMICFRS Serious and Organised Crime report

Police have welcomed a report which praises its response to serious and organised crime.

The HMICFRS (His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services report published today says the force is good at tackling the issue.

In particular the inspectorate highlighted that the force understands and manages the threat from serious and organised crime and sets priorities to tackle it.

A Police spokesman said: "We have good governance structures to manage our performance on SOC and hold regular well-attended meetings to discuss our approach.

"We promote a culture that tackling serious and organised crime is everyone’s responsibility as part of our Operation Warrior brand and we work well with partners to share information about threats as part of Operation Genga.

"The report focussed on our innovative practice in tackling exploitation linked to modern slavery and human trafficking through Op Genga and the Pan Lancashire Anti-Slavery Partnership.

"The inspection team also found that we seek to reduce the threat to those vulnerable to SOC through schemes like Project Adder in Blackpool."

The force's Head of Serious Crime and Intelligence, Det Supt Graham Hill, said: “I’m really pleased that the inspectorate has recognised the good work we do in tackling serious and organised crime in Lancashire which I’m sure is a result of the dedication and tireless work taking place across both our specialist teams and the force as a whole as part of #OpWarrior.

“We work closely with our partners around the threat of organised crime, as part of our Op Genga work, to ensure our communities are safe from dangerous offenders such as drugs and firearms dealers, fraudsters, cyber criminals and many more.

“We will build on this good report and continue to work both with the NCA, the NWROCU and other forces across the region and the UK to take the fight to criminals and ensure there are no safe spaces in Lancashire for serious and organised criminals.

“I would like to thank all our officers and staff for their continuing commitment and dedication in the fight against serious and organised crime.”

Added Police and Crime Commissioner Andrew Snowden: "I welcome this report and I'm delighted to see it acknowledge the proactive and innovative approach we take to targeting organised crime gangs here in Lancashire.

"As the report highlights, disrupting and dismantling serious and organised crime is a top priority in my Fighting Crime Plan for Lancashire and Op Warrior, the Constabulary's dedicated, force wide operation has been put in place to deliver against this, with some fantastic results tackling organised crime in the county, with significant increases in arrests, drug and cash seizures, alongside community intelligence to Crimestoppers.

"I'm also pleased to see recognition for the Constabulary's Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Co-ordinator post, funded by my Office. This role is key to facilitating partnership working across Lancashire through the Pan-Lancashire Anti-Slavery Partnership.

"I continue to support the Constabulary to ensure they have the resources needed to keep up this momentum and continue to take the fight to criminals."

HMICFRS looked at the force as part of its police effectiveness, efficiency, and legitimacy (PEEL) inspections. They inspected how well police forces tackle serious and organised crime (SOC). In 2022, they changed how they inspect this aspect of policing, to incorporate inspections of the ten regions, as well as the nine regional organised crime units (ROCUs) across England and Wales, and the 43 police forces. Lancashire is one of six forces that make up the northwest region along with Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Cumbria, Cheshire and North Wales and their ROCU, the North-West Regional Organised Crime Unit (NWROCU).