Commissioner Clive Grunshaw - March 2026

Welcome to the March edition of my stakeholder newsletter, bringing you the latest updates on crime and policing across Lancashire.

This month, we marked International Women’s Day and #NoMoreWeek by shining a spotlight on the wide range of initiatives underway in Lancashire to tackle violence against women and girls. From new victim support services and safety apps to dedicated PCSOs, campaigns, funding and community events, addressing VAWG continues to be a top priority for us here in Lancashire.

We also launched NightSafe across Lancashire, a targeted approach to reducing crime and improving safety within the night time economy. Alongside this, my recent survey revealed that 93% of women and girls in Lancashire feel they must adapt their daily behaviour to stay safe. This is simply not acceptable. My Office, together with our partners, is committed to changing this reality, and every positive step we take moves us closer to safer communities.

In addition, my Violence Reduction Network has published its 2025 Annual Report, showcasing significant reductions in serious violence and major progress across prevention and early intervention programmes. The results are clear: when partners work together, violence is preventable.

Clive Grunshaw

Lancashire's Police and Crime Commissioner 

NightSafe

I joined Lancashire Police and our partners in sunny Blackpool last week to officially launch a crackdown on crime in the night time economy through NightSafe, alongside the rollout of Project Vigilant. Both initiatives respond directly to concerns raised in my survey on the safety of women and girls in Lancashire last summer.

NightSafe includes high visibility patrols during peak times, checks on door staff, and robust licensing visits, with swift enforcement action taken where necessary. It also brings together established safety schemes such as Ask for Angela, Street Pastors and Street Angels.

From April, Project Vigilant will form a key part of NightSafe, focusing on tackling violence against women and girls and addressing perpetrator behaviours before harm occurs. Specially trained officers will be deployed to spot concerning behaviour in real time, with plainclothes officers monitoring for signs of predatory behaviour so uniformed colleagues can intervene early and prevent situations from escalating.

Domestic Abuse Support Services Lancashire (DASSL)

As you may be aware, I have recently announced changes to the way support is provided to victims of domestic abuse. From April 2026, all specialist domestic abuse services will be delivered by Domestic Abuse Support Services Lancashire (DASSL).

DASSL is a partnership of established Lancashire domestic abuse organisations led by Safenet. It already provides safe accommodation and outreach support in collaboration with Fylde Coast Women’s Aid, The Liberty Centre, KEY, Be Free, the Emily Davison Centre and HARV.

With the additional investment, DASSL will now also deliver the Independent Domestic Violence Advocate (IDVA) Service and expand its outreach offer to provide longer term support for those who need it. Further information about DASSL can be found at dassl.org.uk.

Hollie Guard

I'm pleased to share that I have invested £60,000 of cash seized from criminals into Hollie Guard, a personal safety app designed to help protect women and girls. Working in partnership with Safenet, Paladin and Victim Support, we will proactively offer the enhanced version of the app, Hollie Guard Extra, to 1,000 victims who have been identified as needing additional safety support.

This innovative app enables users to send emergency alerts to trusted contacts, plan and track their journeys, and access tailored support for those experiencing domestic abuse, stalking or harassment.

Domestic Abuse PCSOs

Domestic Abuse Police Community Support Officers (DA PCSOs) have already supported more than 250 people affected by domestic abuse since they began assisting Lancashire Police’s frontline teams at the end of January.

Currently being piloted in Preston, the initiative aims to strengthen Lancashire Constabulary’s response to domestic abuse and enhance the support available within communities.

The eight dedicated PCSOs have received specialist training to ensure they have the skills and knowledge needed to make a meaningful impact.

Their work has already led to multiple referrals to local services, including stalking and domestic abuse support, and victims have reported feeling more confident about contacting the police in the future.

Domestic abuse related deaths

My Office recently brought together professionals from the police, local domestic abuse services and public sector organisations in Preston for two events focused on sharing learning and best practice around domestic abuse related deaths, including suicides - an issue I continue to raise with Government.

The sessions brought together practitioners from policing, domestic abuse services, mental health, public health and local authorities to strengthen understanding of roles, responsibilities and opportunities for closer partnership working to keep people safe.

Julie Aunger, whose daughter Katie died in 2016, courageously shared her personal experience of witnessing the abuse her daughter suffered at the hands of her partner. Both Katie and her former partner died after taking a fatal combination of drugs, and an inquest later concluded that the circumstances surrounding how the drugs were taken could not be determined.

Lancashire Colleges help to Nail Domestic Abuse

My campaign to Nail Domestic Abuse continues to gather momentum, with growing support from local colleges, businesses and a feature on BBC1 Crimewatch. The initiative provides training for hair, nail, beauty and wellness professionals to help them recognise the signs of domestic abuse. I recently visited both Blackburn College and Blackpool College to meet hair and beauty students who are being encouraged to complete the training, which includes videos filmed in real salon environments, information on the different forms of domestic abuse, and guidance on how to safely support anyone who may be at risk. 

Get The Message

My Office continues to tackle misogyny with the rollout of our #GetTheMessage campaign and I'd like to thank everybody that has supported the campaign so far. 

I attended Lancaster FC V Cleethorpes Town FC earlier this month where the Dolly Blues wore their pre-match shirts in support of #GetTheMessage campaign. This campaign is asking men and boys across the county to reflect on how their behaviour affects how safe women and girls feel.

Visit getthemessage.uk to find out more.

VAWG Fund 

Earlier his month I met with StreetlightUK, a charity I awarded £4,500 funding to deliver specialist outreach and one‑to‑one support for women involved in prostitution and sexual exploitation. The project, funded through my Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) strand of the Community Fund, has operated since late last year and provides practical, trauma‑informed support to women in areas including Blackburn, Burnley, Preston, Lancaster and Morecambe.

 Ketamine Awareness Conference 

Ketamine destroys lives and harms futures. Its use has risen sharply over the past year, and it is vital that we reach both those at risk and those who may be able to spot the signs and offer support.

That is why I funded the recent Keta‑what? conference at Ewood Park in Blackburn, organised by the Pennine Lancashire Community Safety Partnership. The event brought together health professionals, police and people with lived experience, with attendees from sectors working closely with vulnerable individuals. A second follow‑up event focused on raising wider community awareness of the risks and warning signs of ketamine misuse.

If you have any concerns, please come forward - you can do so anonymously via Crimestoppers. By working together across policing, health, education and community organisations, we can make Lancashire safer and save lives.

£64k invested in reducing reoffending

This month I've committed nearly £64,000 to initiatives aimed at reducing reoffending and improving safety across the county.

Local organisations were invited to apply for grants of up to £5,000 to deliver schemes across Lancashire, with projects focusing on targeted interventions, practical support and specialist advice.

The funding, seized from criminals, has now been reinvested into 13 projects designed to prevent repeat offending, support rehabilitation, and address the underlying causes of crime.

Breaking the cycle of reoffending and ensuring ex-offenders do not return to the criminal justice system makes our communities safer, is cost effective and changes lives.

MP Funding 

This month, I visited several projects funded through the MP strand of my Community Fund.

In Burnley, I joined Burnley MP Oliver Ryan to visit Healthier Heroes CIC, which supports veterans, prison leavers, and people with complex needs by helping them reintegrate into society through structured support, safeguarding, and wellbeing programmes.

I also visited Jennings Community Boxing Gym in Chorley with Chorley MP Lindsay Hoyle. The gym is delivering diversionary activities for at‑risk young people, supported by £10,000 from my MP Fund.

Yesterday afternoon I joined Rossendale and Darwen MP Andy McNae in Bacup to see how funding is making a difference at The Station Youth Hub.

Crime Expo

Another successful Crime Expo was held at Ewood Park in Blackburn yesterday, bringing together community members, business owners, and residents to explore the latest tools, innovations, and practical strategies designed to help keep Lancashire’s communities safe. 40 exhibitors were in attendance, showcasing cutting‑edge crime prevention technology and solutions. Attendees also joined interactive workshops on knife crime and ketamine, and received tailored advice from police specialists and partner organisations.

 Lancashire Violence Reduction Network

The Lancashire Violence Reduction Network (LVRN), overseen by my Office, published its 2025 Annual Report this week. 

The report shows Lancashire recorded its lowest number of homicides in over ten years, with no homicide victims under 25 for the second year running, alongside a 15% fall in knife crime and a 31% reduction in hospital admissions for sharp‑object injuries.

Key programmes also saw strong results. The Champions mentoring service supported 481 young people, with 81% showing positive outcomes in reducing offending, while Emergency Department Navigators assisted 599 patients, with 96% not re‑attending with a violence‑related injury.

The 2025 report highlights the expansion of trauma‑informed training, with over 2,134 practitioners trained in 2025, and ongoing innovation in policing tactics through the GRIP programme, contributing to a 12% reduction in crime and 13% reduction in serious violence in targeted areas.

These results show that violence is preventable when partners work together.

For more information visit www.lancsvrn.co.uk

Spiking Workshop 

This month students from Edge Hill University took part in Party Safe, an immersive spiking‑awareness workshop delivered by CounterSpike and supported by my Lancashire Violence Reduction Network.

Held on campus, the high‑energy 90‑minute workshop combined a live DJ environment, a powerful lived‑experience story, and hands‑on Action Labs to help young people understand how to recognise, prevent and report spiking. The session encouraged students to build confidence in responding to concerns, adopt harm‑reduction strategies, and look out for themselves and their friends on nights out.

Students also engaged with a range of stalls, where campus and community partners offered practical advice on wellbeing, personal safety and the support available locally. The stalls ensured that every participant left with a clear understanding of where to turn if they or someone they know ever needs help.

Yesterday, I opened an event in Skelmersdale, delivered by the VRN's Champions Programme. 

The event, delivered in partnership with Wigan Athletic Champions mentors, brought together young people from schools across West Lancashire to explore themes of respect, consent, and healthy relationships. It forms part of a series of Champions VAWG sessions held county‑wide through football community trusts, all aligned to the Commissioner’s Police and Crime Plan, which identifies tackling VAWG as a top priority.

The LVRN Champions Programme provides targeted, trauma‑informed mentoring for young people aged 10–25 across Lancashire who have committed violence or are at high risk of offending. 

Accountability Board highlights success in tackling crime and antisocial behaviour

This month I chaired my latest Accountability Board meeting with the Chief Constable and senior leaders to review progress against my Police and Crime Plan and assess policing performance across the county.

Updates on emergency and non-emergency contact showed sustained improvements in both 999 and 101 answering times.

Crimes involving violence against women and girls (VAWG) have risen by 5% in the past year and now account for 25% of all recorded crime. Despite the increase, the force has achieved increases in positive outcomes across VAWG, particularly in child VAWG. While the statistics around violence against women and girls remain concerning, I am reassured by the significant work underway across policing, my Office, and wider partners.

Anti-social behaviour was a major focus of the meeting. As part of Op Centurion, Lancashire Constabulary has seized 1,190 e-bikes in the last 12 months, contributing to a fall in dangerous driving being reported as a public concern on Lancashire Talking. The public have made it clear that nuisance bikes and e-bikes are a major concern. The increased enforcement activity, supported by the new police bike fleet, shows we take these concerns seriously and act on them.

Crimestoppers 

We are celebrating a significant rise in community intelligence following a successful nine month period working in partnership with independent charity Crimestoppers.

New figures show a 26.9% increase in reports submitted to Crimestoppers from Lancashire residents compared with the same nine month period last year. This marks the highest number of reports ever recorded in the county across a nine month period - clear evidence that more residents than ever are choosing to speak up anonymously to help keep their communities safe.

Lancashire Police continue to work with Crimestoppers to tackle all forms of crime from shoplifting and anti-social behaviour through to modern slavery, drug dealing and drink driving. Anyone with any information about crime can contact Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via crimestoppers-uk.org.