LANCASHIRE police officers have been left feeling 'abandoned, alienated and alone' because their welfare is given low priority by the force.

The comments were made by the chairman of the Lancashire Police Federation, Steve Edwards, following an inspection into the constabulary carried out by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC).

The report found that some officers felt that the force placed a low priority on welfare provision.

HMIC noted that staff questioned the ability of the force's three welfare officers to provide an effective service to a force the size of Lancashire, which has more than 3,430 officers and 360 support staff.

The inspectorate has called on the force to review its welfare provision and occupational health services.

Steve Edwards said: "We need a total review of the force's occupational health and welfare department to make it more effective to service the needs of our members.

"We are concerned about this issue. Our force's motto is aiming to make the public feel safe, involved and reassured but our officers do not feel this way. They feel abandoned, alienated and alone."

He added that early intervention by an effective welfare service could help prevent many problems experienced by officers.

He said that three officer suicides -- two in Southern Division and one in Northern over the last two years -- and problems experienced by a number of officers on long term sick leave have shown the force needs a more effective and efficient welfare system.

One of the suicides was Paul Wilkinson who shot himself dead after being accused of calling female officer PC Rehana Saddique the "office cat" at Lea Police Station, near Preston.

She later agreed to settle her discrimination claim and left the force in October.

Assistant Chief Constable Julia Hodson said she was saddened by the implied criticism and promised to "take on board any lessons that can be learned."

HMIC's welfare findings were one of the only negative aspects of the report. The inspectorate praised the force for its dynamism and energy and its "collective will to improve performance and levels of public service."

The force was inspected as part of a three-yearly programme and was complemented on the energy and enthusiasm shown by senior managers and departmental heads. The inspection focussed on crime recording and crime performance, sickness and medical retirements call handling, finance, firearms and licensing.

Dan Crompton, who carried out the inspection, said there was"a dynamism and duracell energy amongst staff which was encouraging. This inspection evidenced senior officers and managers leading with foresight, passion, optimism and a determination to drive up standards and performance."