Ribble Valley Police

30/05/2026

Good Evening. This evening Officers from Ribble Valley Neighbourhood Policing Team, our Special Constabulary and our Licensing team have been out and about in the Ribble Valley.

We were engaged on an operation designed to both engage and reassure members of the public enjoying the amazing night time economy venues in the Borough, but also identify and target those who are using illegal drugs in these venues.

During our operation we stop and searched 8 individuals suspected as being in possession of drugs and seized a quantity of both Class A and Class B drugs being used by individuals in our local pubs. A 37 year old female was also arrested for being drunk and disorderly and assaulting a Police Officer whilst we were engaged on this operation.

If you need to take drugs to have a good time when on a night out, you are not welcome in our towns and you should understand that we will target you, and you always need to be looking over your shoulders, as you never know who may be watching... 👀

Sgt Steve Dundon - East Police Licensing

29/05/2026

Earlier this week we brought you the very sad update that a little girl had died following a collision in Gisburn. Today, with her family’s blessing, we are sharing their tribute to her with you. They said:

“On Tuesday afternoon our lives were changed forever. We lost our beautiful, fun, perfect little princess.

“She will forever be missed but never forgotten by mum, Natalie, dad, Andrew, twin brother Finn and everyone who was lucky enough to meet her.

“We are beyond broken-hearted without her, she was our loving bundle of energy and joy.”

Five-year-old Alana Moscrop was a passenger in a Skoda Karoq when she was seriously injured after it collided with a Volkswagen Golf R on the A59 near to the old council yard last Thursday (21st May.)

Very sadly, despite the best efforts of the emergency services and medical staff, Alana died in hospital on Tuesday.

The driver of the Skoda – a woman in her 60s, and a five-year-old boy, who was a passenger suffered serious injuries and remain in hospital for treatment.

The driver of the Volkswagen, a man in his 20s also suffered serious injuries, and remains in hospital. He is being treated as a witness in our investigation.

Our thoughts are very much with Alana’s family, who are being supported by specially-trained Family Liaison Officers, and all those who knew and loved her. It’s clear from their tribute just how loved and adored she was, and it is devastating news that she has died.

They have understandably been asked for privacy at this terrible time, and we ask that people please respect that.

Our enquiries into the collision are very much ongoing, and we are continuing to appeal for anyone with information or footage that could help us.

Whilst we are appealing for information, we also make a request that this is passed on through the appropriate channels, and people refrain from speculating online or otherwise. Please remember that a little girl has lost her life, and a little boy and two adults remain injured. This collision has and will continue to effect real people – and seeing unnecessary speculation online will only make matters more distressing for them.

If you do have information or footage, please call 101 or email [email protected] quoting log 0986 of 21st May.

29/05/2026

The man pictured is Bernard Rawstron, and yesterday he appeared before Blackburn Magistrates’ Court and pleaded guilty to five counts of interference with a motor vehicle.

This is after we received calls on 27th of May 2026, reporting that man – later identified as Rawstron - had been seen on doorbell camera footage at approx. 2:20 that morning approaching a vehicle and trying to open the car door without success.

After investigation, officers identified a further four victims of vehicle interference in the area.

Rawstron has been sentenced to 6 months imprisonment and been ordered not to enter the Ribble Valley borough for three years.

Read the full story here https://orlo.uk/w83dJ

27/05/2026

The family of a teenager who died after getting into difficulty in the River Ribble has paid a heartbreaking tribute to him.

Emergency services were called at just after 2pm yesterday (Tuesday, May 26th) to a report of a concern for safety after a boy had gone into the river at Ribchester and had got into difficulty while swimming with friends.

A large-scale search involving officers from Lancashire Police’s underwater search unit and colleagues from Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service was launched, with colleagues from North-West Ambulance Service providing support.

Very sadly, a body was recovered from the river around 7.50pm.

The boy can now be named as Junior Slater who was 12 and from Clayton le Woods.

In a tribute his family said:” Our little blue-eyed boy. He will be truly missed. He was the life and soul of our lives. Words can’t describe how we are feeling right now. We will forever love you Junior.”

Junior’s family continue to be supported by specially trained family liaison officers, and our thoughts are very much with his loved ones.

The family have asked for privacy at this time.

The death is not being treated as suspicious, and a file will be passed in due course to HM Coroner.

27/05/2026

You will remember that last week we told you about a serious collision on the A59 at Gisburn in which four people suffered serious injuries.

We’ve now got an extremely sad update to bring you.

The emergency services were called at 3.55pm last Thursday to the A59, near to the old council yard between the junctions of Crow Park Lane and Strawberry Fields, to a report of a collision.

A Skoda Karoq travelling westbound, was in collision with a VW Golf R.

The driver of the Skoda, a woman in her 60s, and two passengers – a girl and boy both aged five – suffered severe injuries.

Very sadly, the little girl died in hospital yesterday afternoon.

All our thoughts are with her family and loved ones at this very distressing time, and they are being supported by specially trained family liaison officers.

The driver of the Skoda and the boy passenger, remain in hospital being treated for their injuries.

The driver of the VW Golf R, a man in his 20s, suffered serious injuries and also remains in hospital. He is being treated as a witness in our investigation.

We must stress that the investigation into the collision is ongoing, and it is still in its early stages in determining exactly what happened.

Our officers continue to appeal for anyone who witnessed it or has dashcam footage from the area around the time it happened – who haven’t yet contacted us – to please get in touch.

If you have any information which you think can help us, we want you to contact us.

We ask you to please refrain from speculating about what happened. The investigation will determine this and speculative comments around what might have happened can be very distressing for the family of the little girl.

Anyone who can help, please email our Serious Collision Investigation Unit at [email protected] or call 101 – quoting log 0986 of 21st May.

26/05/2026

We have some very sad news to bring you this evening.

At 2.06pm today we received a report of a concern for safety after a boy had gone into the River Ribble at Ribchester.

The boy, aged 12, had got into difficulty while swimming with friends in the river.

A large-scale search involving officers from Lancashire Police’s underwater search unit and colleagues from Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service was launched, with colleagues from North-West Ambulance Service providing support.

Very sadly, a body was recovered from the river around 7.50pm.

While formal identification has not yet taken place, we believe it to be the body of the missing boy.

His family are being supported by specially trained family liaison officers, and our thoughts are very much with his loved ones at this extremely distressing time.

The death is not being treated as suspicious, and a file will be passed in due course to HM Coroner.

25/05/2026

🚨 Young people wanted – have your say on policing! 🚨

Hi, I’m PC Rachael Carroll, and I’m looking for young people to join our Youth Independent Advisory Group (YIAG).

This is your chance to speak openly about your experiences, share your views, and help shape how policing works for young people in your area.
It’s a safe, welcoming environment where your opinions genuinely matter.

✅ Aged 14–17
✅ Live, work or study in Burnley, Rossendale, Pendle or Ribble Valley

If that’s you, we’d love to hear from you!

👉 I need you, get involved and make a difference in your community.

For more details https://orlo.uk/Jagb8

To apply for the role click on this link

This agreement is not intended to be a legally binding contract between us and may be cancelled at any time at the discretion of either party. Neither of us intends any employment relationship to be created now or at any time.

23/05/2026

Today, the Ribble Valley Rural Task Force attended Gisburn Auction Mart followed by the Chipping Steam Fair and managed to acquire a new vehicle!

You can see us next at the Royal Lancashire Show. Come and say Hi! Until then, have an excellent weekend, enjoy the weather, and stay safe!

22/05/2026

We are appealing for witnesses and footage after four people – including two young children – were seriously injured in a collision in Gisburn.

The emergency services were called at 3.55pm yesterday to the A59 at Gisburn, close to the junction with Strawberry Fields, to a report of a collision.

Our officers attended and found that a Skoda Karoq and a Volkswagen Golf R had been in collision.

The driver of the Skoda, a woman in her 60s, and two passengers – a boy and a girl both aged five – all suffered severe injuries and were taken to hospital where they are in a critical condition.

The driver of the VW Golf, a man in his 20s, was taken to hospital with serious injuries.

Sgt Anthony Beckett of our Roads Policing Unit, said: “First and foremost my thoughts are with the four people who suffered very serious injuries in this collision as they receive treatment and care in hospital.

“This was an horrendous collision involving two cars and involved a huge response from the emergency services.

“As we investigate the collision, we are appealing for any witnesses to come forward and for anyone who has dashcam footage to contact us.

“You might have dashcam footage which doesn’t show the collision but captures either of the cars involved shortly before it happened.

“Any information or footage which can help us, please get in touch.

“The A59 at Gisburn was closed for several hours while the injured people received treatment at the scene and for collision investigation work to be carried out.”

Witnesses and anyone with footage and information, can either contact 101 – quoting log 0986 of 21st May – or email our Serious Collision Investigation Unit at [email protected]

21/05/2026

Good evening,

We let you know earlier that the A59 at Gisburn had closed due to a road traffic collision.
We can now let you know that the road is open for you to travel.

Thank you again for your patience and drive safely on your onward journeys 👍