OUTSTANDING warrants in Lancashire have reached an all-time low.

The reduction comes after a crackdown on failing to appear warrants, with more than 500 people being arrested each month in the county.

Many of those warrants are being executed on the same day as they are issued.

Inspector John Clucas said: "There has been a dramatic reduction in the number of outstanding fail to appear warrants for criminal court proceedings.

"These results are due to better working relationships with the courts, warrants being issued more quickly, and tightened procedures between the police, Crown Prosecution Service, and the courts.

"We are currently arresting an average of 18 people every day in Lancashire.

"We need to continue this working practice and continue to drive down the number of outstanding warrants in the county.

"These are the best figures we have ever seen. We are one of the best forces for this in England and Wales for catching those who fail to appear. We have come a long way in the last year, but we are not complacent and there is always room for improvement.

"We are very pleased by the way we are working with criminal justice agencies and this will undoubtedly increase confidence in the way the criminal justice system works here in Lancashire."