By the end of the century the force had developed a detective department who were allowed to wear plain clothes.

[citation needed] Under proposals made by the home secretary on 6 February 2006, it was to be merged with Cumbria Constabulary.

The following officers of Lancashire Constabulary are listed by the trust as having died attempting to prevent, stop or solve a crime:[5] Located in Lancaster Castle, in the former site of HMP Lancaster, Lancashire Police Museum is free to enter with sixteen galleries, each in former prison cells.

The split is approximate, and divisions are deliberately vague, giving a seamless approach to policing in the Lancashire area.

A number of other operationally significant departments are based at the constabulary headquarters in Hutton, including Force Intelligence Bureau, Vehicle Maintenance, and Scientific Support.

Lancashire Constabulary partners with the North West Police Underwater Search & Marine Unit.

The unit also operates a vehicle checking station at Cuerden between Chorley and Preston on the M65, this is done in co-operation with VOSA.

Each of the three geographic divisions has a divisional headquarters, West – Blackpool, South – Preston, and East – Greenbank Blackburn.

[15] The constabulary's armed response teams with authorised firearms officers carrying assault rifles, pistols and taser guns.

[17] In 2023, the constabulary took delivery of 120 Škoda vehicles, including 92 Scala general purpose cars, 21 Superb SportLine hatchbacks for use by the force Roads Policing Unit, five Karoqs for rural patrols and four Kamiqs for driver training duties.