LANCASHIRE Police has been rated as good at reducing crime, keeping people safe and protecting vulnerable people by a government watchdog.

The force, which slashed its budget by £86million over the last decade, also received an outstanding grade for its efficiency from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS).

The force, which is also said to be good at treating its staff and communities with fairness, has invested £3million in neighbourhood task forces, increased its number of response officers by 45 from 980 to 1,025 , and spent £8million in investigations to protect vulnerable people over the last three years.

It has also increased its control room operators by 50 from 295 to 345, invested £3million in digital technology to aid investigations and solve crime, rolled out over 4,000 new digital devices to officers to improve their efficiency, and financed £5.5million in IT improvements.

Chief Constable Andy Rhodes said: “I am delighted that we have been rated as ‘outstanding’ in how we operate and provide sustainable services. We know there is still work to do, but by focusing on getting our core services right over the past couple of years, we are now in a good position to meet the challenge of growing the Constabulary in the future, as a result of new funding into policing.

“The report endorses that we are focusing our resources in the right place, at the right time, and importantly, that we are getting it right - listening to our staff and communities, tackling the issues that are important to them and investing where we need to.

“Whilst the last few years have been incredibly difficult due to the impact of austerity and budget cuts, we have made significant investment to ensure that the most vulnerable people in our county are protected from harm, and, that we deliver on our purpose of keeping people safe.”

Police and crime commissioner Clive Grunshaw said: “In spite of 10 years of government cuts, this inspection is testament that Lancashire continues to have one of the best and most efficient police forces in the country which we should all be proud of.

“Since 2010, we have delivered over £86m of savings – this is significant and represents 28% of the total police budget, with Lancashire having one of the leanest support services in the country.

“Thanks to the support of the public last year, for the first time since 2010 we were able to invest into policing here in Lancashire, launching Task Forces across the county, focusing on reducing and preventing crime and dealing with the issues that matter most to people. We’ve already seen some really great work from these teams, including major drugs seizures and removal of dangerous criminals who blight our communities.

“The force continues to invest in new technology to help make the best use of public money. This includes the funding of drones, which give our Officers a comprehensive view of large areas, helping to locate missing persons, stolen vehicles and manage large scale events, all at lower cost.

“Across Lancashire, we continue to focus on improving efficiency and productivity. There are always challenges, as crime has risen and funding in real terms continues to be constrained, but the taxpaying public we serve should be confident that they have a police force that spends money wisely and is committed to keeping them safe.”