THE Chief Constable of Lancashire Police today defended herself against strong criticism of management style and vowed: "We will get it sorted".

Pauline Clare - Britain's first woman police supremo - spoke after a report by Government inspectors accused the constabulary of mismanaging an internal shake-up of the force and failing to listen to views of staff.

Mrs Clare apologised to officers who had felt left out by the reforms, but she denied that the Home Office report was a personal attack on her.

She said: "I apologise for the way some staff feel they have been treated. We have taken steps to improve the situation and will continue to do so.

"I don't take it personally. I think we are right in saying the vision in the five year plan is my vision and it is important that the chief constable of Lancashire constabulary should determine the way the force develops.

"I don't look at it as a personal attack on me. The report on Lancashire Constabulary is a snapshot in terms of the way the force is being run and the management style.

The report does include some praise for the force including community relations initiatives particularly in Blackburn and Burnley. "But I think it is quite constructive and right to bring out attention to the problems which need to be dealt with. There are no plans to change the structure and as the report rightly says if it takes 12 months to develop these problems they can be put right within the same amount of time."

Mrs Clare was keen to reassure East Lancashire people about the service following claims by the Lancashire Police Federation that the new structure was endangering the public.

She said: "I don't want to create moral panic. These problems are internal and we will sort them out."

"In my experience of HMI reports, this is a particularly tough one written in a fairly forthright style, but if it gets the message across and brings about changes it is a healthy way of doing it."

Colin Berry, secretary of Lancashire Police Federation, said Mrs Clare had been let down by her senior management team, which included assistant chief constables, the deputy chief constable and the director of Corporate Services.

He said: "Mrs Clare's vision is right, but she has been badly let down." Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans said: "This is very disturbing news. Lancashire Constabulary needs to reflect urgently on the findings of the report.

"They have got to take it seriously. The force must not just dismiss it."

Home Secretary and Blackburn MP Jack Straw was unavailable for comment.

A Home Office spokesman said: "It is not minsterial policy to comment on these matters. The report speaks for itself."

A special meeting of Lancashire Police Authority next Tuesday will discuss the report.

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