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Commissioner Clive Grunshaw - June 2026 |
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Welcome to the June edition of my newsletter, where I bring you the latest updates on crime and policing across Lancashire. The World Cup is a major global event, and I know many of you will be enjoying the football and the celebrations that come with it. I strongly believe that everyone should be able to enjoy the tournament safely and responsibly. That is why I am fully supporting Lancashire Police in their dedicated World Cup policing operation, which is focused on tackling offences such as drink and drug driving, domestic abuse, and alcohol-related violence within the night-time economy. Football should never be an excuse for criminal behaviour. With increased patrols, targeted drink and drug drive checks, and a zero-tolerance approach to domestic abuse, officers will be out in force to prevent incidents, respond swiftly where needed, and help keep communities across Lancashire safe. This month, I have also called on the Government to reconsider the potential reclassification of ketamine to a Class A drug. This must form part of a balanced approach - strengthening enforcement against the criminal gangs who exploit young people, while also prioritising prevention and early intervention to support those affected, some of whom are as young as primary school age. I have written to the Policing Minister and offered to work with colleagues in Westminster and partners across the country on this issue. This builds on the education and enforcement activity at the heart of Lancashire’s Operation Shore, which, since its launch just weeks ago, has already led to intelligence-led arrests and meaningful engagement with a significant number of young people. Clive Grunshaw Lancashire's Police and Crime Commissioner
Driving progress on tackling violence against women and girls At my latest Accountability Board, I met with the Chief Constable and senior leaders to review progress against my Police and Crime Plan, with a strong focus on tackling violence against women and girls. I heard how Lancashire is continuing to strengthen its response through investment in trauma-informed training, proactive initiatives such as Project Vigilant, and increased use of tools like Clare’s Law to better protect those at risk. There is also continued progress in areas such as evidence-led prosecutions, tackling stalking and harassment, and ensuring the voices of children and vulnerable people are properly recognised. Alongside this, it is encouraging to see reductions in neighbourhood crime and strong performance in responding to incidents, helping to build trust and confidence in policing across Lancashire. #GetTheMessage My #GetTheMessage campaign continues to challenge men and boys to reflect on their behaviours. The campaign calls out so-called low-level harassment and highlights the impact of these behaviours on feelings of safety for Lancashire women and girls. New content is regularly shared online, you can follow the dedicated Instagram channel @getthemessage_. Please continue to support the campaign and share content using #GetTheMessage. Calling for change on domestic abuse-related deaths I have written to the Lord Chancellor and Home Secretary alongside AAFDA, calling for urgent changes to the law to better recognise domestic abuse-related deaths. Too often, cases where coercive and controlling behaviour plays a significant role in someone taking their own life are not fully recognised, leaving families without justice and perpetrators not held to account. By working with national partners, we are making the case for a new legal framework that reflects the reality victims face and ensures these offences are properly understood. This work will continue in July as we bring partners together to drive forward the national conversation on improving recognition, response, and justice in these cases.
ASB Action Plan Earlier this month I unveiled a new action plan alongside Lancashire Constabulary, setting out a clear and coordinated approach to tackling anti-social behaviour (ASB) across the county. While enforcement remains a vital part of our approach, it goes much further than that. We are working closely with partners across education, health, housing, retail and the voluntary sector to ensure we not only target offenders but also prevent issues from escalating in the first place. Using detailed analysis, we are able to target resources where they are needed most, ensuring that residents receive the service they expect and deserve - whether from the police, their local authority, or the wider partnership. Our local councils hold crucial powers across housing, licensing and environmental health. Alongside this, our work with schools and youth services allows us to reach children and young people early, helping to encourage positive choices and intervene before issues develop into ASB. Through this plan, we will harness the full strength of our partnership network to build on the success of Lancashire Constabulary’s Operation Centurion, which has delivered significant progress in tackling ASB across the county, as well as Operation Vulture, targeting retail crime. Over the past year, officers have seized and crushed 1,225 e-scooters and e-bikes, a 175% increase on the previous year, while continuing to clamp down on offences such as criminal damage, drug dealing and intimidating behaviour. Operation Shore Over the past 12 months, we have seen ketamine use emerge as a growing national concern. This drug destroys lives and damages futures, which is why I fully support Operation Shore, Lancashire Police’s targeted response to tackling ketamine across the county. During just one week, Lancashire Police executed 19 warrants across the county as part of a focused crackdown, resulting in 32 arrests. These results are only possible thanks to the continued support of the public. By submitting intelligence, residents are playing a vital role in helping to take ketamine off our streets. I strongly urge anyone with information or concerns to come forward, including anonymously through Crimestoppers. Calls to reclassify Ketamine to Class A The dangers of Ketamine and the damage that criminal gangs do to our communities is plain to see. It's the stories about young people who have been exploited by gangs, where they could become involved in wider criminality and the dangers of addiction to a substance that time and again is seen to destroy futures, that have led to me writing to the Policing Minister to look again at classification. I believe we can balance the reclassification to Class A to ensure offenders, particularly those people supplying into our communities, feel the fullest punishment, whilst working to wherever possible not criminalise young people and ensure support is given. Strengthening the response to business crime This month I brought together policing, businesses and partners at a major Business Crime Conference to strengthen our collective response to crime affecting communities and local economies. The event highlighted the importance of partnership working in tackling issues such as retail crime and organised offending, alongside sharing best practice and innovative approaches to prevention. By working together, we can better protect staff, customers and town centres, ensuring businesses can thrive while keeping our communities safe. Supporting young people away from crime this summer I’ve backed a new summer programme in Blackpool, helping divert young people away from crime, anti-social behaviour and exploitation during the school holidays. Funded through the Member of Parliament strand of my Community Fund, the “Drop the Blade, Pick a Trade” initiative delivered by Rosscon, provides structured daily activity, skills training and mentoring for young people most at risk. We know the summer period can present increased risks, which is why investing in prevention and positive opportunities is so important. By supporting programmes like this, we are helping young people build confidence, develop skills, and make safer choices for the future. It was fantastic to see first-hand the facilities and join Chris Webb MP in a tour of the site, meeting the staff and some of the young people engaging in different programmes and projects. Helping people break the cycle of offending I recently visited the ACE Project in Preston, which is supporting people with complex needs to rebuild their lives and move away from crime. Funded through the Reducing Reoffending strand of my Community Fund, the programme provides tailored support including mentoring, help with housing, employment and mental health, and practical life skills. By tackling the root causes of offending and supporting long-term change, initiatives like this play a vital role in reducing reoffending and creating safer communities. Supporting vulnerable young people in West Lancashire This month, I also had the opportunity to visit the Stable Lives programme in West Lancashire, which is helping vulnerable young people build confidence and make more positive life choices. Funded through my Community Fund under the Member of Parliament strand, and supported by Ashley Dalton MP, this project offers tailored mentoring, emotional wellbeing support, and practical life skills. It also incorporates innovative approaches, including equine-assisted learning. By working with partners and focusing on early intervention, initiatives like this help prevent young people from becoming involved in crime and support them to build safer, more positive futures.
Knife Savers I joined young people in Preston to see first-hand how over £10,000 of funding from my Violence Reduction Network is supporting life-saving knife injury training. It was great to see Knife Savers training in action, with such strong engagement from participants. Whilst police and partners are working tirelessly to prevent knife crime from occurring in the first place, we must ensure that as many people as possible are aware of how to react when faced with a knife incident. Knife crime has devastating consequences. One incident can have a ripple effect across entire communities. Knife Savers training helps tackle this impact by giving people practical, hands-on skills that could save lives. Caught Up Last week saw the premiere of Caught Up, a powerful new short film tackling child criminal exploitation and county lines. Funded through my Violence Reduction Network, Caught Up shines a light on the realities young people face and aims to raise awareness of the dangers and consequences of exploitation. The film will now be used across schools in the area to promote the dangers of exploitation and organised crime.
Volunteers Week This month, I was proud to celebrate Volunteers’ Week and recognise the incredible contribution of those who support my work. From panel members to Independent Custody Visitors, our volunteers provide a vital independent perspective that strengthens accountability and transparency. I recently had the opportunity to thank members of my Custody Detention Scrutiny Panel, who play a key role in examining all aspects of custody, from staffing and arrest data to incidents and how they are addressed. Being open and honest with the public is at the heart of everything I do. It is essential to ensuring people across Lancashire receive the best possible policing service, feel confident reporting crime, and trust that justice will be delivered. Pride As part of Pride month, I have sponsored various Pride celebrations across the county through my commissioned service Victim Care Lancashire. Pride events are a chance to show solidarity and stand against hate and intolerance. Everyone in Lancashire has the right to be themselves without fear of discrimination, and support is available to anyone affected by hate crime. Through my funding of Victim Care Lancashire, victims can access expert support when they need it. I will continue to stand up for all our communities and make clear that there is no place for hate in Lancashire.
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