A FORMER detective who led some of East Lancashire’s most high-profile murder investigations has been appointed independent chair of a board that tackles re-offending.

Paul Withers, a former detective superintendent who served who served in East Lancashire for more than 20 years before retiring last July due to ill-health, has taken up the role of independent chair of the Lancashire reducing reoffending boards.

Mr Withers, 51, who led a number of murder investigations including that of Helmshore businesswoman Sadie Hartley in 2015, said he hopes his work will help cut down the number of crime victims in the county.

Mr Withers said: “Most victims – whether it be homicide or another crime – and their families have left a bit of an impact on you. Anybody who is involved in policing across the UK and meeting bereaved families knows that it leaves a real mark on you.

"Victims' families generally all behave with absolute dignity, incredible strength and compassion.

“I will do everything I can to reduce the number of victims across Lancashire.”

Mr Withers, who will oversee local boards in North, East, South and West Lancashire and replaces outgoing chair Jerry Graham, said priority will be given to people who are at risk of causing the greatest harm to residents in the county.

Among the work of the board, which is made up of statutory and voluntary partners, including health chiefs and probation representatives, is to identify the root causes of re-offending and put measures in place to try to prevent it.

Mr Withers said the board aimed to put measures in place to address housing, mental health and substance misuse, and all worked with the families of offenders while they are in prison.

The board also assists police and crime commissioner Clive Grunshaw in the distribution of his dedicated fund to projects which tackle crime and reoffending across Lancashire, making sure it is used in a way which best addresses the local issues and priorities in communities.

Mr Withers' new role ensures that each local board has a consistency of approach and that the work it does works towards the commissioner’s key priorities in his police and crime plan.

Mr Grunshaw said: “Policing alone cannot prevent people reoffending and Paul’s appointment builds on the work that has already been undertaken by partners within Lancashire’s local reducing reoffending boards."