County's Police Authority Scoops Top Awards
Tuesday, 30 November, 2010
LANCASHIRE Police Authority is leading the way in efforts to strengthen links with the community.
The Police Authority scooped two national awards at a ceremony honouring excellence at the annual Association of Police Authorities' (APA) Conference last week.
Lancashire was presented with the Community Engagement award for LOOP (Lancashire Opinions on Policing) - a new interactive website allowing people to give their views on policing.
Judges of the Achieving Excellence Awards felt Lancashire's entry showed a vibrant and innovative use of technology as well as wide-raging and impressive reach and scope across the community.
The Police Authority also won the Innovation Award for the Our Partnership Challenge - a project designed at building close relationships with partner agencies and organisations to identify and discuss major issues and challenges facing community safety and policing.
The judges praised the Authority for its forward-thinking approach and said the excellent work could be used as best practice by other police authorities in their own communities.
The APA described Lancashire's double award achievements as "exceptional".
Chairman of Lancashire Police Authority, Cllr Malcolm Doherty, added that the awards were proof the Authority continues to be a top-performer when it comes to listening and interacting with the community it serves.
"I am thrilled that Lancashire achieved not one but two national awards recognising the excellent work going on building relationships within the community," he said.
"This is excellent news for the people of Lancashire who can be reassured that they are able to influence the way local policing is provided and help shape our services.
"We take our statutory duty to consult very seriously and we are looking forward to consulting Lancashire people about the impact the forthcoming Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill will have on policing.
"We remain committed to developing stronger relationships with our residents and these awards are testament to the quality of the strategies we are using to achieve this."
