LANCASHIRE'S top cop Pauline Clare has denied massive police security for Blackpool political conferences would be a drain on resources across the county.

But she has admitted it is difficult to reassure Fylde folk that they would be totally safe from terrorist attacks during Labour's party conference which starts on September 30.

She said: "I couldn't give anyone 100 per cent reassurance. Lancashire Constabulary is well aware of what terrorist levels will be at that time and will take whatever action is necessary."

Mrs Clare, who celebrated her first anniversary as Lancashire's chief constable yesterday (July 31), went on to support controversial views on legalising prostitution.

As the country's first and only female chief constable, she has spent the time since her appointment under intense scrutiny by the media.

Despite this attention, Mrs Clare, 48, proved she was not afraid to speak her mind when I asked her whether she supported West Yorkshire's Chief Constable Keith Hellawell in his views on legalising brothels.

She said: "I don't think there was anything he said I would disagree with. I am happy to support him."

And when I asked her for her opinion of Judge Alasdair McCallum, who recently halted a trail of a policeman accused of sexual harassment, she said: "Behaviour which is seen as sexist in the police force is unacceptable and I believe further action should be taken.

"I have been subjected to many instances of sexual discrimination, but I'm not sure we labelled them as sexual discrimination in the past."

She then called on women within the force to have the confidence to tackle sexism.

But she warned policewomen not to expect a helping hand from her, stressing: "I don't agree with positive discrimination."

Mrs Clare may be one of a new breed, but this week she could point to no significant changes in the way the force is run since she took on the role last year.

She insisted, however: "Whilst wholesale change hasn't taken place, we are going to embark on it.

"What has come from the top is a sense of direction. What we are trying to achieve is a changed programme planned to take five years to achieve."

That she was appointed at all, claims Mrs Clare, is symbolic of change within the force.

At the press conference her immediate thoughts for the future were to keep to business as usual, with no plans to celebrate her anniversary .

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.