LANCASHIRE Constabulary was rated as ‘good’ in a recent ‘police effectiveness’ inspection.

The force retained its rating for a third year following extensive examination by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services.

It was given a ‘good’ rating for its crime prevention methods, investigation work, tackling organised crime.

However it ‘requires improvement’ in the way it supports vulnerable people.

Andy Rhodes, chief constable, said he was really pleased the force had been praised on its ability to keep people safe and reduce crime.

He said: “This is the third year in a row we have been judged as good overall.

“Our commitment remains to deliver as service that puts victims at the centre of everything we do and the inspection has recognised our effectiveness at preventing crime and tackling antisocial behaviour, investigating crime and reducing reoffending and tackling serious and organised crime.

“We continue to take difficult decisions to ensure we balance resourcing for local policing, response, specialist investigations and other matters such as cyber enabled crime.”

Nationally two thirds of the forces in England and Wales maintained their ‘good’ rating with once force maintaining its ‘outstanding’ rating.

However within the report some forces had struggled to evaluate the risk from dangers, such as sex offenders, and there was an 18 per cent increase of the number of overdue assessments.

Zoë Billingham, who led the inspection, said: “In the face of substantial increasing pressures, dramatic increases in demand and rising numbers of complex crimes like sexual abuse, child abuse and domestic abuse, most forces continue to do a good job in keeping us safe. It is especially commendable that almost all forces are taking effective action in the fight against organised crime.

“I congratulate officers and staff on the way they have largely kept policing standards high.

“But I have major concerns that policing is under significant stress.

“About a quarter of forces are all too often overwhelmed by the demand they face, resulting in worrying backlogs of emergency jobs, with officers not attending incidents promptly, including those involving vulnerable people.

“Last year, we warned of a national crisis in the shortage of detectives.”