Lancashire Constabulary
North West · Territorial force · 3,450 officers
Key Statistics
Officers
3,450
Staff
1,550
Area (sq miles)
1,189
Population served
1,520,000
About Lancashire Constabulary
Covering Lancashire from Blackpool to Burnley. A well-regarded force with strong neighbourhood policing traditions and an affordable cost of living making it attractive for recruits.
Lancashire Constabulary serves the North West of England, covering diverse landscapes from urban centers to rural areas, making it a unique operational environment. The force is bordered by Greater Manchester, Merseyside, and North Yorkshire, and has a coastline that includes the busy port of Fleetwood. Key transport arteries such as the M6 motorway and the West Coast Main Line enhance its connectivity, necessitating a robust response to both crime and traffic-related issues.
The constabulary is noted for its specialist units including the Cyber Crime Unit, which tackles digital offenses, the Roads Policing Unit, dedicated to maintaining road safety, and the Dog Unit, which plays a vital role in crowd control and operational assistance. Additionally, the Counter Terrorism and Domestic Extremism Unit is crucial in addressing potential threats to public safety.
Currently, Lancashire Constabulary prioritizes protecting vulnerable people, addressing serious and organized crime, and enhancing community engagement. By focusing on these areas, the force aims to improve public trust and safety, ensuring they meet the evolving needs of their communities. This commitment to proactive policing presents a dynamic and fulfilling opportunity for those considering a career or transfer within the force.
Current priorities
- Protecting vulnerable people
- Addressing serious and organized crime
- Enhancing community engagement
Notable specialisms
Source: About Lancashire Constabulary. Summary fetched 2026-07-05.
Public-data snapshot
Workforce
Officers
3,450
Staff
1,550
Total headcount
5,000
Source: Home Office Police Workforce Statistics as of 31 March 2025 · OGL v3
HMICFRS PEEL rating
good
Inspection cycle: 2023-2025
Source: HMICFRS PEEL assessments · Open Government Licence v3.0
In recent oversight reports
Lancashire Constabulary is named in 2 recent IOPC investigation outcomes or HMICFRS thematic reports.
Terms of reference: Home Secretary’s commission for a thematic inspection of the handling of misconduct in fire and rescue services
2023-07-19 · HMICFRS
Joint inspection of the investigation and prosecution of fatal road traffic incidents
2015-02-04 · HMICFRS
From data.police.uk
data.police.uk covers England, Wales & Northern Ireland; not Police Scotland.
Stop and search
Latest available month: 2026-08. 2,171 recorded stop-and-search records that month. Officer-defined ethnicity was recorded on 89.6% of records.
By object of search (2026-08)
| Controlled drugs | 1,354 |
| Offensive weapons | 261 |
| Article for use in theft | 235 |
| (not recorded) | 203 |
| Stolen goods | 91 |
| Articles for use in criminal damage | 18 |
| Firearms | 9 |
By outcome (2026-08)
| A no further action disposal | 1,657 |
| Arrest | 229 |
| Community resolution | 131 |
| (not recorded) | 73 |
| Penalty Notice for Disorder | 52 |
| Summons / charged by post | 25 |
| Caution (simple or conditional) | 2 |
| Khat or Cannabis warning | 2 |
Source: data.police.uk · Open Government Licence v3.0
Recorded crime by category
14,579 crimes recorded by Lancashire Constabulary in 2026-08 (latest published month), by category. Counted from the published street-level archive; England, Wales & Northern Ireland only.
| Crime type (2026-08) | Recorded |
|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 5,656 |
| Anti-social behaviour | 2,727 |
| Criminal damage and arson | 1,158 |
| Shoplifting | 1,017 |
| Public order | 931 |
| Other theft | 805 |
| Vehicle crime | 657 |
| Burglary | 466 |
| Other crime | 360 |
| Drugs | 352 |
| Possession of weapons | 156 |
| Robbery | 114 |
| Bicycle theft | 111 |
| Theft from the person | 69 |
| Total | 14,579 |
Source: data.police.uk street-level archive · Open Government Licence v3.0
Deaths during or following police contact
IOPC-recorded fatalities involving Lancashire Constabulary over 2004/05 to 2024/25 (2024/25 in brackets). These use the IOPC’s five categories, which have different definitions and are not additive. Figures count incidents the IOPC attributed to Lancashire Constabulary; see the national page for how multi-force incidents are handled.
Recruitment
How to join Lancashire Constabulary
Application stages, entry routes, fitness and vetting requirements.