LANCASHIRE Police Authority has been given a good rating by inspectors.

The authority is in charge of scrutinising the work of the police in the county and ensuring taxpayers get good value for money.

Inspectors from the Audit Commission and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary awarded it three out of four stars, and said it was “performing well”.

But in its 25-page report, the commission warned of the “pressing” need for financial savings in future years.

The report said the authority, chaired by Labour Blackburn councillor Malcolm Doherty, was doing a good job of monitoring the work of the police force and connecting with local communities.

It said there was a “robust and confident approach” to appointing top officers, and said the workforce repres-ented Lancashire’s diverse population.

And it urged the authority to extend its work tackling terrorism and serious crime.

Coun Doherty said: “We welcome HMIC’s findings. “This report is validation that we do our job well, driving the constabulary to ongoing performance impro-vements as a result of our scrutiny.

“It is our job to make sure that people in Lancashire receive a police service that keeps them safe and makes them feel safe, a service that is effective and efficient. “As such the inspection considered every area of our work.” It was the first time the Police Authority, which has 17 members, of which nine and councillors and eight are independent, had been inspected in this way.

Tom Keena, an inspector from the Audit Commission, said: “The authority provides good strategic leadership and effective independent scrutiny of the force.

“With a tough financial climate ahead, this leadership will be vital to ensure the force achieves best possible value for money, while continuing to provide the services local people need.”