HOME Office Minister Alan Whitehead visited Padiham Police Station yesterday to find out how the police are working with the community to keep crime levels down.

During his visit he was told about the £40,000 refurbishment programme being carried out at the station and met some of the 40 police officers based there who serve Padiham and West Burnley.

He said: "I wanted to look particularly at how various community-based initiatives are working. The police, the fire brigade and the council are working together on various issues like low level crime and arson of abandoned vehicles which are tremendously important even though they don't always make headlines in the papers.

"The good news for this police station is that all the indicators on these crimes show they are well down.

"A lot more information is coming back to the police and they are targeting particular community problems and talking to people in the first place."

Mr Whitehead said that the refurbishment of the station was a sign to people that investment was being put in to the police force and was the sort of thing that makes a difference.

He said: "The police here are very encouraged by the changes that are taking place, in terms of the short term results from changes made in their working practices such as putting particular police officers on beats, regular talking with the council and particular officers being assigned for community contact.

"We can see the difference here and the results are good."