September Newsletter from Lancashire's Police and Crime Commissioner

From increased patrols in busy town centres as part of Safer Streets Summer, to tackling nuisance vehicles and reflecting on the findings of the national State of Policing Report, this month’s newsletter is full of important updates covering crime and policing in Lancashire.

You may have seen that I’ve launched a dedicated WhatsApp community to keep you informed about key developments and initiatives. As your voice in policing, I’m always exploring new ways to ensure Lancashire residents stay connected and up to date. You can use this link to join our channel.

Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls

As part of my on-going commitment to prevent violence against women and girls (VAWG), I have invested more than £177,000 into projects across Lancashire that aim to prevent violence, support survivors, and create safer environments for women and girls.

Grants of up to £5,000 have been awarded to a variety of schemes, ranging from supporting vulnerable women and girls to education and sports-based outreach activities. This fund is part of the broader strategy to reduce victimisation, increase positive outcomes, challenge misogyny, and tackle offenders - ultimately making our communities safer.

From increased patrols in busy town centres as part of Safer Streets Summer, to tackling nuisance vehicles and reflecting on the findings of the national State of Policing Report, this month’s newsletter is full of important updates covering crime and policing in Lancashire.

Lancashire’s Violence Reduction Network (LVRN), in partnership with Accrington Stanley Community Trust, hosted an awareness event to address violence against women and girls and challenge harmful attitudes among young people in East Lancashire.

The event was informed by insights from LVRN’s Champions programme, funded by my office, which identified a need to address troubling values and behaviours among some young people.  The day included inputs from police and lived-experience speakers, alongside information about healthy attitudes, respect and Clare's Law. 

Tackle Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour

Safer Streets Summer is coming to an end this month and the full results will be shared in the next edition. This is a national campaign running from 30 June to 30 September 2025, aimed at tackling crime and antisocial behaviour in town centres and high streets across the UK, including Lancashire.

An issue regularly raised to me by Lancashire residents is the illegal use of nuisance vehicles, such as e-bikes and e-scooters. 

We know education is a major hurdle when working to combat the issue of nuisance vehicles, with many parents unknowingly purchasing their children scooters or bikes that are both illegal and dangerous. 

This is why I am urging families to be aware that riding these vehicles without insurance or a valid licence can lead to serious penalties, including points on a future driving licence or even disqualification before a young person has legally started driving. These vehicles are not toys, they’re classed as motor vehicles, and that means the law applies just as it would to a car or motorbike.

In July and August alone, officers seized 359 illegal machines across the county, supported in part by the new fleet of on and off-road bikes funded by my office as part of Op Centurion. 

I recently joined MP for Fylde Andrew Snowden on the beat in Lytham. It’s always a pleasure to meet our local officers and to see the passion they have for keeping our communities safe. I was delighted to speak to the area’s PCSO and to hear that he has served with Lancashire Constabulary for 19 years; we can’t underestimate the value this brings in terms of connecting with the local community and the intelligence gathered through that connection.

I welcome the Government’s new proposals to improve road safety, including important reforms to driver medical fitness rules and the introduction of mandatory eyesight testing for older drivers. These changes represent a positive step toward making our roads safer for everyone.

In Lancashire, we’ve seen the devastating consequences of drivers continuing to use the roads despite serious medical conditions. These suggested changes will help close dangerous loopholes and protect the public.

This summer, I awarded almost £90k of cash seized from criminals to projects taking place over the summer holidays that deter young people from crime and anti-social behaviour. Grants of up to £3k were awarded to 36 organisations to deliver short-term diversionary activity projects that target vulnerable young people.

I recently had the opportunity to visit a few of the funded projects, including The Bike Works in Skelmersdale and Wot Would U Do in Preston. The Bike Works community bike shop do a fantastic job mentoring young people at risk of offending, as well as Wot Would U Do running weekly creative workshops that highlight the dangers of knife crime and carrying a knife.

Get Tough on Serious Violent Crime

This month the Violence Reduction Network supported National Spiking Intensification Week by sharing stories of young people who bravely spoke out about their experiences of spiking. 

One case of spiking is one too many, and whilst we can offer the reassurance that reports are rare, any work we can do to reassure that we take this issue seriously and focus on prevention can only be a good thing. We know that violence against women and girls is a key issue within the night time economy, of which spiking is just one of the risks that we see, and it is one of the places that women, in particular young women, feel less safe.

By raising awareness and investing in education, alongside strong enforcement that removes offenders of these devastating crimes from our streets, we are working to ensure everyone can be confident about our response to spiking in Lancashire and prevent victims in the first place. 

Rebuild Public Trust and Confidence

I was pleased to welcome the latest State of Policing report from His Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary. It’s encouraging to see our efforts in Lancashire recognised for delivering a policing service that is both efficient and effective.

I’m especially proud of the best practice highlighted through Operation Centurion—our proactive response to tackling anti-social behaviour across the county.

This report rightly highlights the challenges forces face in maintaining these services, and I continue to support calls for a fairer funding model that reflects the needs of areas like Lancashire.

Community News

I can now confirm that a new contract has been signed for the new Chorley Police Station, and the site has now officially been handed over to Eric Wright Construction - marking the start of 

construction on this major investment in local policing infrastructure. 

This new facility will continue to offer face-to-face access for the public, improved working conditions for officers and staff, and the technology needed to support effective policing in the years ahead.

I’m proud to see this investment moving ahead and grateful to everyone involved in getting us to this point.

My Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner, Kimberley Whitehead, was pleased to welcome Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal to Lancashire Constabulary's Headquarters in Hutton, Preston for the launch of Victim Care Lancashire (VCL). 

The Princess Royal met victim ambassadors for Restorative Justice, some of whom shared their stories at the event. Supporting victims of crime through accessible, local services is a key part of the my responsibilities and I am honoured that Her Royal Highness was able to attend the launch of one of the new services available in Lancashire.