Community Safety Partnership Chairman awarded special commendation by Lancashire Police

A senior West Lancashire Borough Council officer has been presented with a commendation by Lancashire Police in gratitude for his work to help tackle crime and community safety issues.

Dave Tilleray, the Council's director of Leisure and Wellbeing and chairman of the West Lancashire Community Safety Partnership (WLCSP), is leaving the authority after 22 years.

Since 2005 Dave has participated in the West Lancashire Community Safety Partnership and has been a long-time supporter of the Police and partnership working. He became chairman in April 2011, and has presided over numerous achievements to help tackle crime and improve community safety in West Lancashire.



To thank Dave for his efforts he has been presented with a letter from the Chief Constable and a Divisional Commander's Commendation, which is given by Lancashire Police to recognise work that makes a significant contribution to achieving targets of local policing plans. For Dave this has included:



· Helping to tackle serious and organised crime

· Reducing reoffending

· Preventing child sexual exploitation

· Tackling domestic violence issues

· Protecting vulnerable people from repeat anti-social behaviour

This has been achieved by key local public sector organisations working together effectively, but particularly as a result of the close relationship between the Borough Council and the Police who work together on a daily basis.

During Dave's Chairmanship, WLCSP has had a lot of success in tackling organised crime by working with partners through Operation Nemesis, which was led by the Police. This has led to more than 370 arrests, over 200 years of prison sentences being handed out by the courts, almost £2 million pounds worth of drugs being seized and the prosecution and eviction of people using Council addresses for the production of cannabis.

Tackling child sexual exploitation has been a subject that Dave is particularly passionate about. He has played a role in making sure awareness training has been delivered to every secondary school in West Lancashire so young people can make educated choices to keep them safe.

Some other excellent initiatives introduced under Dave's tenure include the Bright Sparx Action Plan, which has seen the number of deliberate fires and anti-social behavior offences reported over the Halloween and Bonfire period fall by more than 50%.

A working group to help agencies and partners work together to engage with new Edge Hill University students during Welcome Week has also been a great success.

Dave said: "I am very proud of what the Community Safety Partnership has achieved while I have been involved and it was a lovely surprise to receive this commendation.

West Lancashire Police Inspector June Chessell said: "Dave thoroughly deserves this commendation for all his hard work for WLCSP in helping to tackle crime and community safety issues in West Lancashire."

Councillor Kevin Wright, West Lancashire Borough Council portfolio holder for Community Safety, said: "Dave's commitment to ensuring West Lancashire remains a safe place has been a strong foundation for the WLCSP while he has been chairman. The challenge for partners is to build on his legacy and carry on working together to make West Lancashire a safe place."

Dave's contribution to partnership working on community safety was also recognised by Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service whose southern area group manager has written him a letter of appreciation for all his efforts.

Notes to editor:

Dave has worked for the Council for 22 years. Originally he joined the Council as a Principal Environmental Health Officer. Following a number of promotions he became Executive Manager Community Services, before moving on to become Assistant Director, and then Director of Leisure and Wellbeing. Prior to working for West Lancashire he held posts at Blackburn, Preston, Blackpool and Wolverhampton Councils. Dave studied his Bachelor of Science with Honours degree at the University of Salford, before gaining an MBA, and is a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health.

Dave has also been Chairman of the West Lancashire Health and Wellbeing Partnership.