An East Lancashire council has outlined its plans to ensure that policing meets the need of the community.

Police and Crime Commissioner, Clive Grunshaw, visited Nelson Town Hall to discuss the priorities for Pendle.

Councillors raised issues including anti-social behaviour, speeding, crime and organised drug crime.

Councillor Asjad Mahmood, Leader, said: “We were delighted to welcome Clive to Pendle to discuss the action being taken to keep our towns safe.

“It was also a great opportunity for us to highlight the issues and concerns we have and hear how these are being tackled.

“We discussed anti-social behaviour, speeding, crime and organised drug crime.

“We also raised the importance of improved neighbourhood policing with better visibility and engagement with residents.”

Mr Grunshaw also raised the development of the new state-of-the-art police station which will provide officers with the resources to meet the challenges of modern policing.

He said: “In my role as the public's voice in policing, it is important that I meet with council leaders across the county to ensure we are working together to effectively deal with the crime and policing issues that matter most to residents.

“People want to see more officers on the beat, tackling crime and anti-social behaviour and building back relationships with local communities, which is exactly what my new Police and Crime Plan for Lancashire will deliver.

"I will hold the chief constable to account for strong community policing and for upholding standards within the constabulary through regular accountability meetings and tough scrutiny.

"It's an exciting time for Pendle, with work on the new station underway which will offer a state-of-the-art facility and together with a public front counter, fulfilling my commitment to maintaining accessible police services in the community.

 "The new facility is part of a wider investment in policing infrastructure across Lancashire, helping to tackle crime and protect the public across the Pendle for years to come.”

Councillor David Whipp, Deputy Leader and Chair of Pendle Community Safety Partnership pressed the commissioner on the need to restore local police officers.

He said: “We want Pendle to be a great place to live, work, study and visit so it’s important we do all we can by working in partnership with the police and other agencies.

“It was good to hear from Clive about how the police are tackling crime and anti-social behaviour across Lancashire, including Pendle.”