Contract extension sees county’s top officer stay in post for another year

Commissioner Clive Grunshaw said he was delighted to offer Chief Constable Steve Finnigan an extended term as the head of the constabulary, saying he delivered reductions in crime and led the force to an ‘outstanding’ grading from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary.

It is the job of police and crime commissioners to hold chief constables to account and to scrutinise performance.

Mr Finnigan (pictured) held an acting position from 2005 to 2007. His substantive five-year fixed term appointment ran from 2007 to 2012.

A three-year extension from the secretary of state with support of the Lancashire Police Authority was granted in 2012 and lasted until 2015.

In April 2014, the commissioner granted an extension of the Fixed Term Appointment (FTA).

Mr Grunshaw said: “I received a letter from the chief constable, who indicated he wished to stay in his role. He asked me to grant him another extension for one year, which I was happy to do.

“During his time as chief constable, Mr Finnigan has delivered reductions in crime, in the context of an overall reducing budget. He and his senior team possess the relevant experience and leadership needed to continue to deliver excellent services to the public of Lancashire.

“Mr Finnigan has led an organisation that has been graded as ‘outstanding’ in a recent HMIC assessment, with the force being one of only a small number to have achieved such an accolade.

“He has delivered all that has been asked of him and there is no stronger way for a police and crime commissioner to demonstrate their support to their chief constable than to extend their FTA.”

Mr Finnigan added: “I am delighted that the police and crime commissioner has agreed to extend my contract until March 2017. 

“It has been an honour and a privilege to lead Lancashire Constabulary as chief constable over the last 10 years.”