A PROMISE of more police on the streets has persuaded one of the area's MPs to do a U-turn in his opposition to changes planned by Chief Constable Pauline Clare.

Mrs Clare intends to combine Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale into one police division, an idea which Pendle MP Gordon Prentice was against.

However, he now says he has high hopes for the new look and has given it a guarded welcome.

His change of heart followed a meeting with the new Colne divisional commander Clive Helliwell.

Said Mr Prentice: "I told the Chief Constable a few months ago that I was unhappy with her proposal as there was a danger of breaking the very good links we currently have with the local police in Pendle.

"I know other people shared my misgivings.

"The existing police divisions generally align with the local authority boundaries, and this seems to make good sense.

"However, there is clearly a very strong view within the Lancashire force that the new set up will deliver major benefits and put more police on the streets.

"I believe we should all give the new plan a fair wind in the hope it delivers the advantages that are claimed for it.

"We are promised, for example, more high visibility policing and this is precisely what people want to see."

The new division will be under the command of Superintendent Mike Griffin, currently head of the Burnley area. He has admitted that currently nearly half of a police officer's time is spent on paperwork, and he says he wants to see the present situation changed.

Added Mr Prentice: "Last year we had controversy about police station closures and cuts in opening hours but that, thank goodness, is all behind us now.

"Police stations are places of refuge and they should have a huge symbolic importance to the local community.

"They should never be closed as a simple cost cutting measure - I don't expect to see a re-run."

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