Police and Crime Commissioner extends Chief Constable's contract
THE Police and Crime Commissioner has extended the
contract of Lancashire Police's Chief Constable until March 2017. Clive Grunshaw
said he was delighted to offer Steve Finnigan an extended term as the head of
the Constabulary after he delivered reductions in crime and led the force to an
'outstanding' grading from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary.
It is the job of Police and Crime Commissioners to hold Chief Constables to
account and to scrutinise performance. Mr Finnigan held an acting position from
2005 to 2007. His substantive five year fixed term appointment ran from 2007 to
2012. A 3 year extension from the Secretary of State with support of the
Lancashire Police Authority was granted in 2012 and lasted until 2015. In April
2014, the Commissioner granted an extension of the Fixed Term Appointment (FTA)
until March 2016. Mr Grunshaw said:- "I received a letter from the Chief
Constable, who indicated he wished to stay in his role. He asked me to grant him
another extension for one year, which I was happy to do. During his time as
Chief Constable, Mr Finnigan has delivered reductions in crime, in the context
of an overall reducing budget. He and his senior team possess the relevant
experience and leadership needed to continue to deliver excellent services to
the public of Lancashire. Mr Finnigan has led an organisation that has been
graded as 'outstanding' in a recent HMIC assessment, with the force being one of
only a small number to have achieved such an accolade. He has delivered all that
has been asked of him and there is no stronger way for a Police and Crime
Commissioner to demonstrate their support to their Chief Constable than to
extend their FTA."
Mr Finnigan added:- "I am delighted that the Police and Crime Commissioner
has agreed to extend my contract until March 2017. It has been an honour and a
privilege to lead Lancashire Constabulary as Chief Constable over the last 10
years. As we continue to navigate our way through austerity I am determined that
we will continue to deliver great Policing Services to the people of Lancashire.
I do not, however, underestimate the scale of the challenges we face, but I know
that our 6,000 staff, comprising Police Officers, Police Staff, members of the
Special Constabulary, and volunteers, including Volunteer Police Cadets, will
work tirelessly to help keep the good folk of Lancashire safe from harm, and to
prevent and reduce crime."
