Tuesday, March 10, 2026
Wyre Neighbourhood Policing Team have been announced as the winners of the Crime Prevention Award category at VISAV’s National Community Engagement Awards 2026.
These awards recognise the tremendous work police officers and staff undertake to protect us and make our communities safer, with award winners being invited to attend as VIPs to the National Community Engagement Conference in March 2026.
Since 2023, Wyre Police have been working alongside partners to tackle organised crime groups (OCG) in Fleetwood. The Prosper Partnership, a part of the Clear, Hold, Build strategy, saw local police, Wyre Council, local housing providers, schools, charities and many more come together to not only rid Fleetwood of OCG’s and associated criminality, but also to ensure Fleetwood remains an unwelcome environment for criminals.
As a part of the ‘Clear’ stage of the strategy, Wyre Police conducted robust Operation Warrior activity across Fleetwood to address head on the serious and organised crime in the area. This included drug warrants at addresses associated with drug criminality and closure orders on problem properties in the area.
At the same time, they ensured that criminality did not return to these areas, by ‘Holding’ them with regular patrols and a high visibility presence.
Since the project began, Wyre police have made 251 arrests of those linked to OCG activity, achieving over 100 years in total sentencing with 30 nominals still awaiting sentencing. In addition, they have seized £370,000 of cash and £4 million in drugs.
During the ‘Build’ stage of the strategy, the Prosper Partnership was formed. The partnership saw organisations, both private and public, coming together to create a Fleetwood everyone can be proud of. This included Wyre Council, Regenda Housing, Great Places, Places for People, Fleetwood Town Community Trust, local schools (including Flakefleet Primary), NHS partners, Lancashire Partnership Against Crime (LANPAC), Lancashire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, BT, Inspire (substance misuse), Changing Futures, and Neighbourhood Watch.
Just a few examples of the successful work achieved by this partnership includes safe spaces for women and girls including Empower Her Girls Hub, annual Year 9 careers fairs to inspire Fleetwood’s next generation, youth diversionary activities to reduce anti-social behaviour (ASB) and a significant investment into safety with additional CCTV cameras in key areas.
Across the area, since the Prosper Partnership has been running, police statistics show an overall decrease of 12% in reported crime, with local survey results from Lancashire Talking showing 70% of respondents agree that police in their area are dealing with crime, up from 36%.
The success of the Clear, Hold Build project and Prosper Partnership is set to continue into 2026, with an expansion of activity. The Partnership originally covered areas in Park and Mount wards but has now expanded to cover all Fleetwood wards.
Local Policing Chief Inspector for Wyre, Martin Wyatt, said: “I’m incredibly proud of the team for achieving this national award. It’s a testament not only to their relentless work to remove organised crime from Fleetwood, but also to the strength of the partnerships we’ve built through Prosper.
“By working side‑by‑side with local organisations, community groups and our residents, we’ve created a united front that keeps Fleetwood safe, resilient and welcoming. This recognition reflects the dedication of everyone involved in making our town a place people are proud to live in and confident to visit.”
Councillor Roger Berry, Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhood Services and Community Safety, said:
“Wyre is incredibly proud of the work taking place in Fleetwood, and this national recognition is richly deserved. The Clear, Hold, Build approach has shown what can be achieved when the police, council, partner organisations and our communities work hand in hand with a shared purpose.
The dedication of everyone involved has not only made a real impact on reducing crime, but also helped create a safer, stronger and more confident Fleetwood. We remain fully committed to supporting this partnership as it continues to grow and deliver lasting change for our residents.”
Clive Grunshaw, Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire said:
"It's great to see the fantastic work happening in Fleetwood through the Prosper Partnership recognised with this award. The local efforts to dismantle criminal gangs and revitalise the community are excellent examples of partnership working delivering real, positive change.
"Through Operation Warrior, we are tackling organised crime at full force, taking drugs off our streets, safeguarding vulnerable people and ensuring that those suspected of criminal activity are arrested and brought to justice.
"Our 'clear, hold, build' strategy, focused on tackling crime, stabilising neighbourhoods and empowering partners to strengthen community resilience, has now been expanded to other areas across Lancashire. This approach remains a vital part of our commitment to reducing serious violent crime and delivering on my Police and Crime Plan."
You can report suspicious or criminal activity anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, or via the Lancashire Police website at https://www.lancashire.police.uk/ro/report/
For more information about the Prosper Partnership and how it’s implementing the Home Office Clear, Hold, Build strategy visit https://www.lancashire.police.uk/police-forces/lancashire-constabulary/areas/campaigns/campaigns/the-prosper-partnership/.