Latest news with #CliveGrunshaw
BBC News
6 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Lancashire PCC joins calls for action on M6 safety over closures
Disruption caused by frequent crashes and repeated closures on a motorway is causing "gridlock" on local streets, a police and crime commissioner has PCC Clive Grunshaw has joined calls for action on the regular disruption on the M6 between junctions 28 and 33, saying the county needed "bold action and significant investment" to keep moving. The boss of a Preston bus operator previously called for urgent safety improvements on the M6 and Ribble Valley MP Maya Ellis has raised concerns in the Commons over the chaos caused for drivers and Department for Transport has been contacted for comment. Thomas Calderbank from Preston Bus wrote to the transport secretary last month saying he was "deeply concerned" about the road's his own letter to Heidi Alexander, Mr Grunshaw urged the government to consider measures such as average speed cameras during peak times and a new bridge over the River Ribble between junctions 32 and 33 near Lancaster - the longest uninterrupted stretch of the M6 without an interchange. 'Ripple effect' He emphasised the knock-on effects on local roads and the increased demand on police resources to manage diverted traffic and incidents."When the M6 is closed or congested, traffic is routinely diverted through Preston and surrounding areas," he said."This places immense pressure on local roads, causing widespread disruption and gridlock."He added: "Lancashire hosts the largest motorway network outside London, serving both local commuters and significant through-traffic"The regular disruption on the M6 has a ripple effect across our communities, often bringing traffic to a standstill."He said locally "we're doing all we can", including increased police enforcement and targeted infrastructure improvements, but "we need national support to deliver long-term solutions". "To keep Lancashire moving, we need bold action and significant investment." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
BBC News
09-06-2025
- BBC News
Seven Lancashire shops sold knives to children in tests
Seven shops in part of Lancashire were found to have illegally sold knives to teenagers during undercover volunteers tried to purchase knives across 34 stores in the county as part of the Sceptre national initiative, which aims to tackle knife Constabulary said of the 34 test purchase visits, 27 passed but seven failed and are now facing further joint operation between police and trading standards also resulted in the removal of 400 knives off streets in Preston, Chorley, South Ribble and West Lancashire. 'Completely unacceptable' Knife surrender bins across Lancashire Police's South Division were emptied, in which 431 knives were recovered. Police said weapons included machetes, swords and flick knives. Weapon sweeps in local parks and public spaces also resulted in the seizure of an electric BB Rachel Killinger said: "We continue to carry out this work and hope that it sends out the message that there is no place for knife crime in South Lancashire."Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw said: "Carrying or using knives is completely unacceptable, and no one should have to live in fear of such dangerous weapons in their community." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
ITV News
05-06-2025
- ITV News
Conman jailed for stealing cash from pensioner's house
A conman has been jailed for ransacking a pensioner's home for cash after offering to fix his Muir targeted the victim in his nineties after pretending to be a 37-year-old entered the property in Symonds Road, Preston, on February 10 this year. Once inside he searched through the man's cupboards and stole cash before a separate incident, Muir stole a designer wallet and other items from another property in September 2024. Following numerous enquiries by the South Residential Burglary Team, Muir was identified, arrested and later charged with multiple offences. This included breaching a 10-year Criminal Behaviour Order which prohibits him from entering any house or to contact any resident for any purpose connected with canvassing any of Sedberg Street, Fleetwood, appeared at Preston Crown Court on Wednesday 4 June and was sentenced to five years in prison for two residential burglaries, theft, driving while disqualified, breach of a community behaviour order and being a trader engaged in unfair practice.A force spokesperson said: "Operation Defender is a force-wide campaign that aims to combat residential burglary with support from Lancashire's Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw."
BBC News
13-05-2025
- BBC News
Twelve arrests in Blackpool town centre crime crackdown
Twelve people have been arrested in a crackdown on crime in a seaside resort's town operation in Blackpool targeted aggressive street drinkers, anti-social behaviour (ASB) and people riding illegal e-bikes dangerously around the pedestrianised areas, Lancashire Police neighbourhood police and task force teams joined forces with Blackpool Council and the Business Improvement District (BID) to prevent and intervene in anti-social police and crime commissioner Clive Grunshaw said he wanted to combat ASB and make offenders aware such crimes would be punished. The arrests last weekend included:Two men from Blackpool, aged 20 and 18, held on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class A drugsA 31-year-old man, from Blackpool, on suspicion of actual bodily harm and stalkingA 43-year-old man from Blackpool on suspicion of robbery and fraudA man, 36, from Lancaster after being wanted for six court warrantsA 29-year-old man from Bolton for a suspected 13 shoplifting offencesThree people on suspicion of being drunk and disorderlyTwo people for breaches of criminal behaviour orders An individual on suspicion of committing public order from Blackpool Council also issued six people with community protection warnings (CPWs) about their Insp John Jennings-Wharton said: "The issues we tackled over the weekend are those that the community regularly tells us are causing them the most concern and makes people feel unsafe when visiting the town centre." He said the neighbourhood teams were continuing to crack down on criminal and anti-social behaviour daily and would continue to conduct weekends of action throughout the summer."Be assured that once warnings have been issued to offenders, enforcement will follow," he Blackledge, Blackpool Council director of community and environmental services, said the authority had been working closely with neighbourhood policing teams and other partners "taking a proactive approach to preventing and intervening in anti-social behaviour".He said the arrests "sends out a clear signal that such behaviour will not be tolerated".Mr Grunshaw said: "Offenders must know crimes, even low-level ones, will be punished." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
