Lancashire Police has been given a gold award for their work with the armed forces community.

Police have been given the award, the highest possible, under the defence employer recognition scheme, for recognising and utilising the talents and skills that people from the armed forces community bring.

This means veterans, service leavers, reservists, military spouses and cadet forces instructors feel supported by police.

Officers have also demonstrated flexibility towards training and mobilisation commitments for reservists and Cadet Force adult volunteers.

PC Ian Thompson, the armed Forces champion for Lancashire police and a member of the armed forces, said: “Over the last few years the constabulary has shown its commitment to the Armed Forces community of Lancashire.

“The force has adopted practices that recognise the contribution that members of the Armed Forces community make, both within policing and elsewhere, and we have committed to using those skills within the force.

“As a member of the armed forces community myself I am incredibly proud that we have received this award. It really shows our commitment as a ‘forces-friendly’ employer and service provider.”

The gold award was given after police signed the ‘Forces Covenant’ and achieved a bronze award in 2020 and then in 2021 achieved the silver award.

The covenant is a promise to those who serve, or who have served, that they and their families will be treated fairly.

Chief Constable Chris Rowley said: “I am proud that we have been recognised as an advocate of our armed forces community.

“In gaining the gold award in the ‘defence employer recognition scheme’, alongside having signed the ‘armed forces covenant’, we are reaffirming our ongoing status as a forces-friendly employer.

“It is vital that we continue to recognise the transferable skills armed forces veterans bring to the policing family.”

A formal awards ceremony will take place in November.