We’ve got good news for our rural communities. New, dedicated rural task force teams have now been set up across Lancashire to target the issues that matter most to residents, including machinery theft, rural, wildlife and heritage crime.

A total of 20 officers, funded through the police officer uplift programme, will form part of the local policing teams that already cover the rural communities and will based at Morecambe, Garstang, Ormskirk, Clitheroe and Waterfoot.

The new officers are intended to provide extra resources to target, disrupt and address crime in rural communities and their launch follows the investment in 40 task force officers located in our towns and cities last year.

With 74 per cent of Lancashire classed as rural, these officers will be a great asset in preventing crime and supporting our rural communities.