The Police and Crime Panel for Lancashire is scheduled to meet on Monday, 22nd September 2025, to discuss a range of topics, including performance updates from the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), a review of PCC decisions, and the panel's budget. The meeting will also cover updates on task and finish groups and any complaints received.

Here's a closer look at the topics on the agenda:

Police and Crime Commissioner's Performance Update

The panel is scheduled to receive an update on the Police and Crime Commissioner's key activities, those of his Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner (DPCC), and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC).

The update is expected to cover progress on the current Police and Crime Plan for Lancashire 2024-2029, which includes four priority areas:

• Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls
• Tackle Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour
• Get Tough on Serious Violent Crime
• Rebuild Public Trust and Confidence

The report pack highlights several initiatives and activities undertaken since the last panel meeting.

Preventing Violence Against Women and Girls

The Commissioner's aim is to adopt a zero-tolerance approach to violence against women and girls. Key developments include:

• Violence Against Women and Girls Survey: A survey conducted over the summer received over 4,000 responses, which are being analysed to enhance activity and advance the delivery of this priority.
• Specialist Support and Training: The Commissioner held the first Quarterly Performance Review of Paladin, a service delivering specialist support for victims of stalking. Paladin shared that they are currently providing ongoing support to 55 stalking victims at high-risk of harm.
• VAWG Community Fund: The Commissioner has invested more than £177,000 into Lancashire projects that tackle violence against women and girls. The investment will support a total of 38 intervention projects that aim to prevent violence, support survivors, and create safer environments for women and girls across Lancashire.

Tackling Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour

The Commissioner's aim is to address not just the symptoms, but also the root causes of crime and anti-social behaviour. Key developments include:

• Safer Streets Summer: The OPCC led on the Safer Streets Summer delivery plan, a Home Office initiative with a particular focus upon ASB¹.
• Summer Community Fund: The Commissioner approved £130,253 in funding for 46 projects across Lancashire.
• E-scooters and E-Bikes: The Commissioner continues to share where e-bikes and scooters have been seized.
• Working with the Premier League: The Commissioner visited a pilot project he has helped fund in partnership with the Premier League that aims to build stronger connections between professional football clubs and their local police forces. The Commissioner, Lancashire Violence Reduction Network, and the Premier League Charitable Trust have secured £360,000 through the Premier League Police Partnerships Pilot Fund to support a new programme across all nine football trusts in Lancashire, running until March 2026. The clubs involved are Accrington Stanley, AFC Fylde, Blackburn Rovers, Blackpool FC, Burnley FC, Fleetwood Town, Morecambe FC, Preston North End, and Wigan Athletic.

Getting Tough on Serious Violent Crime

The Commissioner's aim is to tackle organised crime at full force. Key developments include:

• County Lines Intensification Week: During the week of action, Lancashire Constabulary arrested 69 people and seized £20,422 in cash.
• Operation Warrior: The Commissioner has welcomed and highlighted several successes through Operation Warrior, including four men being jailed after discovery of industrial scale cannabis farm, and arrests in West Lancashire following a drugs warrant.
• Clear, Hold, Build: The Commissioner's Partnership and Policy officers attended a meeting with representatives from Lancashire Constabulary involved in the Clear, Hold, Build in Preston and West View Leisure Centre to discuss extending young person diversionary provision.

Rebuilding Trust and Confidence

The Commissioner's aim is to restore confidence, both through the maintaining of standards and highlighting what actions are taken when officers and staff fall short of these. Key developments include:

• Attestation Ceremony: The Commissioner and his Deputy attended attestation ceremonies to welcome new recruits as they begin their careers in policing.
• Social Value Investment: The Commissioner highlighted the millions of pounds of social value investment being seen in the east of the county as part of the building of a new police station for the Pendle area.
• Governance and Accountability: The Commissioner is continually reviewing the way that 'holding to account' takes place.
• Community Scrutiny Panels: In addition to the Accountability Board, the Commissioner, through his Office undertakes various scrutiny/advisory boards across a broad spectrum of police activity.

The report also details the work of the Joint Independent Audit Committee (JIAC), Joint Independent Ethics Committee (JIEC), Joint Professional Standards Scrutiny Panel (JPSSP), Custody Detention Independent Scrutiny Panel (CDSP), Stop and Search/Use of Force Scrutiny Panel, Joint Violence Against Women and Girls Advisory (VAWG) Committee, and the Independent Custody Visitor Scheme (ICV).

Police and Crime Commissioner's Decisions

The panel is scheduled to review decisions made by the Police and Crime Commissioner since the last meeting on 30th June 2025. The decisions are published on the Commissioner's website.

Some of the decisions listed for review include:

• Critical Policing Infrastructure Programme (CPIP) - Revised Delivery Strategy (zonal strategy)
• Summer Community Fund Funding Round
• Member of Parliament Fund
• Community Safety Partnership Fund
• Financial Position as at 30 June 2025
• Invitation to Tender for the Provision of a Lancashire County Council Area Domestic Abuse Risk Assessment and Safety Planning Service
• Pension Forfeiture (Former PC Khan)
• Street Pastors, Street Angels and Similar Organisations Contribution
• Violence Against Women and Girls – Community Fund Funding Round
• Award of Grant to Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse
• Invitation to Tender for the Provision of the Drive Domestic Abuse Perpetrator Project Across Lancashire

Panel Budget 2024/25

The panel is scheduled to note expenditure for 2024/25, which will be published on the PCP website. The government provides limited funding to cover the costs of maintaining Police and Crime Panels. The host authority receives a maximum annually of up to £71,700 in total, which includes a maximum of £53,300 for costs of administering Panels and up to £920 for expenses per member to a maximum of £18,400.

The report pack includes a breakdown of costs and expenditure submitted to the Home Office for the Grant Claim for 2024/25. Administration costs totalled £39,363.78, and members' allowances totalled £6,190.00, bringing the total expenditure to £45,553.78.

Other Business

The agenda also includes items for membership updates, public questions, updates from task and finish groups, and any urgent business that may arise. The panel will also note the dates of future meetings.