A senior Bolton police officer has said improvements are being made in the force and said she wants to return to “old school policing” where an officer is known in the community.

Inspector Lisa Clarke also revealed work which had been come to combat vehicle crime the north of the town.

The remarks were made at a recent Police and Communities Together (PACT) meeting held at the All Souls Church in Halliwell.

At the same meeting Cllr Rabiya Jiva urged people to work with the police to help resolve problems.

Insp Clarke said: “I arrived in October and I felt like I couldn’t speak without getting all these changes.

“I will have the staff here to look after you all.

“I hope you have started to see Greater Manchester Police improving.

“We were in special measures and we were hauled over the coals for a lot of things and rightly so.

“Response times were horrendous.

“We are not where we should be but we are going massively in the right direction.

“There has been an increase in responses.

“I like the idea of the neighbourhood bobby who you all know who goes around the area.”

Insp Clarke also said two men police to be responsible for a large majority of vehicle crime have been arrested recenty.

The pair are due to appear in court in March, she added.

Insp Clarke added: “Since they have been arrested vehicle crime has declined but it has not stopped as there is always somebody else.

“We have had vehicle crime offences and drug dealing around here all the way up to Astley Bridge.

“We have had a lot of complaints about the tragic lights at the Asda.”

The inspector also gave assurances of her commitment to the town.

She said: “I live in Bolton, I am from the area, I am here until I retire.”

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Cllr Jiva added: “We want to know if things are not working properly.

“Taking 999 calls has increases and time taken for 11 is down for the last 12 months.

“When something isn’t right speak to us.”