[P]olice in West Cumbria are taking action on antisocial behaviour in Workington – and are urging the community to show support.
In the past fortnight, the police have received a number of reports of antisocial behaviour involving youths, including the setting on fire of wheelie bins, climbing on roofs and incidents of abuse towards members of the public and people working in the town.
Tackling antisocial behaviour continues to be a priority issue for officers in West Cumbria.
In Workington, on-going action taken by the police includes:
- Increasing patrols in the town centre, focusing on areas most affected including the bus station
- Giving officers patrolling the town centre body cameras to help them record and capture evidence
- Visiting shops to help with crime prevention and request their assistance
- Visiting schools to speak to children about antisocial behaviour, the impact on the community and the consequences for themselves when caught
However, officers are urging people in the community to look at ways they can support the police efforts.
Sergeant Lorraine Murphy said: “I would like to encourage parents to look at their own children – particularly if aged between 12-15 – and ask themselves what they are getting up to on an evening. Could they be some of those who are involved in causing trouble in the town centre?
“The issues we are seeing – graffiti on shops, abuse of members of the public and people who are at work – causes a great deal of problems for people in the community but we are also seeing actions which are reckless and which have the potential to put the safety of the youths themselves at risk. We are seeing incidents of arson, where wheelie bins and being set alight and calls to report youths running across roofs.
“We are going into schools to educate children on the problems they are causing, the dangers they are putting themselves in and the potential consequences if they are identified as being involved in such offending. I ask that parents take similar steps with their own children.”
Anyone who would like to raise issues in their area should call 101 or email [email protected]
You can also report to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
To report an emergency incident or a crime in progress, call 999.
