In the wake of the agreement reached between the House of Lords and the Commons on the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill, which cements the introduction of directly elected Police Crime Commissioners, Lancashire Police Authority has issued the following statement:

Cllr Malcolm Doherty, chairman of Lancashire Police Authority, said: “Now we can plan ahead with certainty. The Police Authority has been preparing for some time for the plans to introduce directly elected Police and Crime Commissioners to be given the green light to ensure a smooth handover of power.

“We are grateful that the uncertainty is now over and that we are able to draw a line under the concerns of the past to concentrate fully on the tasks ahead. Over the coming months, the Police Authority will be working closely with our partners locally and nationally to build a solid framework for the new governance body to ensure that the transition to the new regime is seamless.

“Originally it was proposed that the first elections would take place in May 2012, and we believe that the postponement of these elections until November 2012 will provide us with extra time to ensure the transition to the new governance arrangements is as seamless as possible and that there is no adverse impact on performance.

“Lancashire is renowned for its exceptional performance and I have no doubt that these very strong foundations will ensure that service quality will be protected during this period of unprecedented change.

“During the transitional period, the Police Authority will retain the full extent of its duties, and will continue to challenge and scrutinise performance in the best interests of the public. We will work with the same passion and vigour that has received national recognition over the years and will always place the public at the heart of our decisions.

“The Police Authority understands the anxiety that this period of change will no doubt generate and as such will ensure that information is delivered in a clear and timely manner to the public so they are kept fully up to date with developments and how the new system will affect them.

“However, irrespective of the framework we work to, the Authority’s aim is above all to protect the communities of Lancashire and ensure their priorities are our priorities. We are confident the legacy we leave behind will enable the future PCC to continue achieving the best possible results for Lancashire residents.”