LANCASHIRE'S chief constable Pauline Clare, has outlined her plans for the force's future.

It includes more bobbies on the beat, better protection for officers and decentralisation.

Mrs Clare told an open meeting of the Lancashire Police Federation she wants the best policing service in the country.

Her plans include:

Decentralising decision-making, giving Divisional Commanders more responsibility.

The possibility of 100 new officers for the county.

Appointing the highest calibre recruits and paying a premium for new officers who possess top skills.

Issuing slash and knife-resistant gloves to all officers and specials.

Finding body armour that most suits police needs. Mrs Clare, who was speaking at her first open federation meeting since her appointment nearly nine months ago, said: "I would suggest that this is a very different organisation from the one we have known, but that is the kind of organisation we are going to be.

"It's not one of those things I am saying today and after 12 months I'll have gone off the boil and forgotten about it."

She said a team of experts, some already in place, were going to help the force develop suitable strategies.

A human resource and information technology manager were soon to be appointed, to make Lancashire the 'best and most modern' force in the country.

She added: "From April 1, we will have in place a new decision-making structure which clearly recognises divisional commanders and their teams are the most important people in the organisation and they will have unprecedented influence in respect of all operational issues."

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