Police task forces net £16m of drugs across Lancashire

The squads, which were set up 12 months ago to respond to public concerns about organised crime in the county, have been praised for the "fantastic" job they have done to clean up the streets.

"They have been an overwhelming success,"said Lancashire's Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw, who promised more task force officers would now be recruited in the future to target drug dealing, theft and anti-social behaviour.

And the senior officer in charge of local policing in the county, Ch Supt Sam Mackenzie, added: "I'm really proud of the work they have done over the past year - they are an impressive bunch."

The task forces, totalling just 40 officers, were brought in to re-connect with the public after almost a decade of cutbacks to the county's police service.

"At the time it seemed that 40 officers for the whole county was just a drop in the ocean," said Commissioner Grunshaw. "But their success in just 12 months demonstrates what can be achieved.

"We now know we can invest even more going forward because we know the difference they are making - the statistics are evidence of that.

"The rationale behind this was to re-engage with communities and deliver what the public have been asking for - and in some cases demanding - which is the disruption of organised crime, taking drugs off the streets and gathering and acting on intelligence they give us.

"It is that proactive policing which has been degraded over years of cuts to the service. It's been a massive success."

Much will depend on funding from central government, but Lancashire has already budgeted to introduce a rural task force across the county. Officers are currently being recruited and could be in post by January.