EVERY front line uniformed officer in the Pennine police division which covers Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale, is to be allocated their own small beat and become accountable for solving problems in their area.

The radical change comes into effect in Burnley on Sunday and in the Pendle and Rossendale areas on December 1.

Pennine police boss Supt Mike Griffin said it was the most significant of all the changes he had seen in 38 years as a police officer. In Burnley, not including the town centre and rural areas of Briercliffe, Worsthorne, Cliviger and Deerplay, there are now eight community beats. From Monday there will be more than fifty and plus extra in Padiham.

Supt Griffin said feedback over the years revealed that the public wanted to see more officers walking their areas.

They were often dissatisfied at what they perceived to be "never seeing a police officer'' in spite of the fact that police officers in the division responded to more and more calls each year.

Now all front line officers will become community beat officers with "ownership'' and accountability for a large number of small beats. They will be investigate all crimes and incidents and identify and solve problems in partnership with the public and other agencies. A crucial part of their role will be regular liaison with local councillors, residents' associations, Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinators, schools and other groups on their beat.

They will give a direct telephone number where messages for individual officers can be left on an answerphone with a guarantee that the officer or team member will contact the caller when next on duty.

Supt Griffin said: "This service will bypass the switchboard and will be answered promptly reducing many of the concerns about not knowing the identity of the beat officers and being unable , or finding it difficult, to leave a message.''

He added: "The thin blue line involved in day to day policing will not become a broad new line.

"But if we are to meet the public's concerns and get to the root of the problems, provide a visible, accountable and effective officer and co-operate fully in partnerships, this initiative will do that.''

He added: "The reason why Pendle and Rossendale start on December 1 is to tie in with major changes to our communications room.''

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