OFFICERS at Lancashire Constabulary's CrimeStoppers bureau appealed to the public for information about an alleged offence, unaware that the incident had already been dealt with.

And today the force agreed to tighten up procedures.

Two complaints had been made about a red van. When the police appeal was made through Crimestoppers, the incidents had already been resolved by police officers who visited the premises of the JH Hewitt and Sons soft drinks in Bridge Street, Church.

Today Mark Hewitt, 35, a director with the company said he was considering writing to the police demanding an apology. He said: "A woman had complained about one of our drivers because a case had fallen off a van and the glass had punctured a tyre.

"The police contacted me and we identified the driver. We have since spoken to the woman and offered to pay for the cost of the damage.

"I think that they should tighten the system so that this cannot happen again."

A police spokesman said the problem had occurred because Accrington police division had notified the CrimeStoppers bureau about the incident but had not provided a crime reference number so that staff could check the position of the case.

"It is very unlikely that this could happen again because we have decided to alter system.

"In future the only appeals with reference numbers will be released through CrimeStoppers so that the status of a crime can be checked."

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