Guy Owen

Online crimes are to become a priority for Lincolnshire Police after the launch of a new strategic plan.

The Distinctively Lincolnshire report was launched today (November 21) and looks to explore four key areas in ensuring that the county becomes a safer place, with one of them ensuring people are kept safer online.

The police aim to “prevent and investigate crimes connected to the digital world and maximise engagement with online communities”, as well as focus on domestic violence and sexual assaults.

Talking to The Lincolnite, Chief Constable, Bill Skelly, said: “We have seen growth in the digital space online with things that happen to people and their vulnerabilities, particularly with young people.

Issues with funding

Lincolnshire Police Chief Constable Bill Skelly. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Bill also mentioned that force does have issue with funding, but is hoping that this can be resolved very soon.

There have been campaigns for more funding for Lincolnshire Police for many years, however the force could receive information in the next few weeks.

“People will be aware we have an issue with funding for Lincolnshire Police and we are hopeful that over the next six months we will see the government stepping in and giving us a fairer deal that we absolutely expect we should get.

“Am I confident? Well we have had the Policing Minister and the Home Secretary here to talk about the work that is going on in Lincolnshire, so we’re certainly on the government’s mind.

“Whether that translates into the cash we’ll have to wait and see.”

Distinctively Lincolnshire

The new document outlines Lincolnshire Police’s commitment to support the Police and Crime Commissioner in the aims of the Police and Crime Plan:

• Community safety and prevention in partnership
• Listening, responding and being accountable
• Protecting and supporting victims and the vulnerable
• Policing that works

Bill Skelly added: “The mission of the force is to empower and involve communities working to prevent and reduce harm.

“I see the role of policing in our county as playing a leading part in making the lives of our public as safe as possible.

“We have been involved in things such as policing and responding to domestic abuse and sexual crime and these areas are the ones we are going to concentrate on.”

Lincoln City manager Danny Cowley has heaped praise on Coventry City following their performance on Saturday afternoon, claiming they are one of the best teams in the league.

The Imps were unable to hold onto their 1-0 first half lead as the visitors who have the best defensive record in the league fought back to win 2-1 at a sold-out Sincil Bank.

Cowley said: “The Coventry game was a really good advert for League Two football, I thought it was an excellent game and I was really pleased with how we played in the first half and our best performance at Sincil Bank for a while.

“I think it’s the first time that we’ve played one of the top teams and they played at their best and in the second half they took the game away from us.

“We did really, really well in the first half, but I thought we could have been better in the second half.

“You saw two things on Saturday, one that is a top, top team at this level and another one that is still learning and finding its way at this level, with the latter being us.

In his pre-match press conference for tomorrow’s trip to Colchester United, Cowley admitted he spent most of yesterday (November 20) analysing his team’s performance.

“There’s no doubt that a lot of Lincoln people would’ve left the game frustrated, like me, Nicky and the rest of the team did.

“We want to win every game, but when we don’t it hurts, you can either sulk about it or you find a way that it doesn’t happen again in the future.”

Cowley also pointed out that of the 16 teams promoted across the top five tiers of English football this season, only Sheffield United in the Championship have a better games to points ratio.

“There were 16 clubs promoted last year, there’s only one in Sheffield United that have a better points per game record than us.

“Everyone tells me how good Huddersfield United, Newcastle United and Brighton & Hove Albion are doing and yet games to points we’re in a better position than them.”

The Imps have so far won five of their six Tuesday night games in all competitions and Cowley said: “I’ve got a good record as a manager on a Tuesday night and long may it continue.”