Is Haslingden safe to live in 2025? From illicit tobacco sales to organised cannabis farm raids, the town and the wider Rossendale area continue to face serious security challenges.
These incidents show that cameras and alarms alone are insufficient; what’s required is proactive protection backed by a coordinated response.
That is where manned guarding services in Haslingden work in conjunction with Lancashire Police to deter crime, secure premises, and provide immediate on-site action when it matters most.
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Why Haslingden Needs Partnered Guarding
Lancashire Police recently seized illegal tobacco during a day of action in Haslingden, following public complaints on 5th August 2025.
While such operations show vigorous enforcement, Haslingden still records around 108 crimes per 1,000 residents annually, including theft and anti-social behaviour.
By combining police activity with security companies in Haslingden, businesses and communities gain stronger protection.
Guards deter crime on-site, provide immediate responses, and preserve evidence, extending security where cameras and alarms alone fall short.
What a Guard + Police Partnership Looks Like
Shared Intelligence & CCTV Evidence Sharing
When incidents occur, licensed guards act as the first point of intelligence collection. They log events in real time, preserve CCTV evidence, and ensure it is correctly tagged for police use.
In Lancashire, businesses can share footage directly via the Digital Evidence Management System (DEMS), which Lancashire Police use to review and action cases more efficiently.
According to data, CCTV evidence in the UK contributes to around 65% of successful prosecutions in theft and burglary cases nationwide.
By providing proper evidence and first-hand reports, guards reduce investigation delays, enabling faster police follow-ups, as seen in recent Haslingden cases where clear evidence secured prosecutions.
Joint “Day of Action” & Business Outreach
Lancashire Police conducted a high-visibility day-of-action in Haslingden, seizing over £54,000 worth of illegal tobacco products, including 3,200 items from a single shop and an additional £8,000 seized in nearby Waterfoot.
When manned guarding patrols are aligned with these efforts, deterrence is far stronger. By combining police-led crackdowns with scheduled guard patrols, businesses gain consistent protection, faster intelligence-sharing, and reduced repeat offences.
This partnership approach not only reassures the public but also delivers measurable reductions in local crime, making it a proven strategy for Haslingden businesses in 2025.
Rapid Escalation Protocols & Single-Point Contacts
A proven partnership ensures that incidents escalate quickly and effectively.
The process includes:
- Guard verification: A trained SIA-licensed guard confirms the threat on-site.
- Direct police contact: Instead of general 999 calls, guards use local police desk contacts already established through community policing in Rossendale.
- Scene preservation: Guards secure entry points, restrict movement, and protect evidence.
- Evidence transfer: CCTV footage and logs are time-stamped and uploaded directly to police portals.
This streamlined approach mirrors best practice in Lancashire, where verified evidence and rapid reporting have supported faster prosecutions in Haslingden raids.
Real Incidents in Haslingden that Show the Value of Partnership
Case 1 — Armed Robbery at Haslingden Newsagent (Machete Incident, Oct 2021)
What happened?
In October 2021, an armed robbery took place at a Haslingden newsagents when a masked offender entered the shop carrying a machete. A security guard was threatened during the attempted cash-in-transit robbery, putting staff and members of the public at serious risk.
Guard and Police Benefits:
Trained guards utilise conflict management and escalation procedures to minimise the risk to staff and customers. Their direct contact with police enables a fast response and accurate evidence transfer, which helps speed up investigations and secure prosecutions.
Case 2 — Large Cannabis Farm Raid (Recent County Operation With Haslingden Warrants)
What happened?
A major police raid in Haslingden uncovered a cannabis farm valued at around £225,000. Acting on reports of strong odours from a property on Hud Rake, officers searched and seized hundreds of plants during the operation.
Guard and Police Benefits:
Manned guarding reports suspicious activity early, such as unusual deliveries or frequent visitors, to neighbourhood police teams. Helping protect and monitor targeted premises before and after police intervention, improving the safety of sites undergoing investigation.
Building a Stronger Security Partnership in Haslingden
At Region Security Guarding, we understand that proper protection comes from collaboration, not just technology. By delivering trusted manned guarding services in Haslingden and working hand-in-hand with Lancashire Police and local businesses, we strengthen community safety and create a safer environment.
- Dedicated Police Liaison: One contact point for all guards–police communication, ensuring faster escalation and intelligence sharing.
- Streamlined CCTV Evidence Process: Guards capture and retain footage in police-ready format; CCTV supports over 65% of county prosecutions.
- Joint Patrols: Patrols aligned with Lancashire Police “Day of Action” campaigns, boosting visibility and deterrence.
- Alarm Verification: Guards confirm threats before escalation, cutting false callouts and saving police resources.
- Quarterly Security Reviews: Regular meetings with police and businesses to adapt patrols based on real incident trends.
KPIs to Track Partnership Success
To ensure the guard–police partnership, Region Security Guarding, a trusted security company in Haslingden, recommends clear tracking KPIs:
- Time-to-Verification: Monitor how quickly a guard arrives on-site after an alarm is triggered. Target benchmarks (e.g., under 15 minutes) can be logged via guard attendance systems.
- Joint Operations per Quarter: Record the number of guard–police activities, such as coordinated patrols or day-of-action support, confirmed via police liaison notes.
- Reduction in Repeat Victimisation: Track how often the same site is targeted before and after patrol deployment.
- Prosecution Support Success: Measure the number of cases that progress after guards provide CCTV footage and incident reports. This can be validated through police feedback and charge data.
Secure Your Business: Haslingden Manned Guarding Audit
At Region Security Guarding, we specialise in building strong guard–police partnerships that deliver absolute protection, not just after-the-fact evidence.
Contact us and take advantage of our free audit, where we assess your CCTV coverage, alarm response, manned guarding deployment, and existing police liaison points. Following this, we provide a tailored 30–60 day pilot plan to strengthen on-site protection and improve coordination with local policing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do your guards work directly with Lancashire Police?
Yes, our SIA-licensed guards work directly with Lancashire Police through established liaison channels, supporting faster response and stronger evidence sharing.
What evidence format does the police prefer?
Police prefer clear, time-stamped CCTV footage in standard digital formats (MP4/AVI) with accompanying incident reports from guards.
Will guards reduce police false alarm callouts?
Yes, guards verify alarms on-site before escalation, cutting unnecessary police callouts.
How fast can a guard be deployed in Haslingden?
At Region Security Guarding, we can deploy SIA-licensed guards to Haslingden within hours of request.
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