Peter McCall, the police and crime commissioner (PCC) for Cumbria has outlined his six-point plan for policing ahead of the upcoming PCC election.
Cumbria Police are now graded Good with Outstanding aspects by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and is at the leading edge of IT and the deployment of mobile technology and body-worn camera both improving evidence and also protecting officers and public.
The Crime Commissioner acknowledged that there is still lots more to do.
He said: “I was pleased I was able to speak with MPs from around the county, we are well served by the police in Cumbria and I was reassured that they share that view from their constituency perspectives.
“It is always useful to hear the issues that they have had as regards police and crime within their constituencies and also to hear of the individual experiences of a number of their constituents and importantly to work collectively with them to deal with and resolve any issues they raise.
“Throughout the time that I have been the Police and Crime Commissioner for Cumbria a lot has been achieved. Record level of police officers. Since 2016, 113 more officers with another 60 or so to come, new deployment bases opening up in smaller towns and strong partnership working to support victims with other organisations and charities and community groups have all proved that working together is effective and that now is not the time to take the foot off the pedal.
“More resource for our police force, coupled with greater support for victims and a strong focus on crime will all contribute to better, more widespread policing throughout our county to keep everyone safe. There is more to do but we’re making really good headway.”
Peter McCall’s six-point plan:
- Focusing on crime – Raising awareness across the county of cyber, road and rural crime to assist Cumbria Police in finding and charging perpetrators. By continuing to develop our newly formed Cyber team to keep us safe online, deal with those who try to scam the vulnerable and sexually abuse our children over the internet. And through working with organisations, Community Groups, Clubs and charities to tackle and prevent anti-social behaviour in your community.
- Putting more officers back in your towns and villages – Cumbria Police now has the highest recorded number of officers with over 60 more due to be recruited in the coming year.
These high numbers have made it possible to base officers in 9 smaller towns, covering them and outlying villages-providing better cover across Cumbria.
This sharp focus on neighbourhood policing has helped to deliver intelligence on drug dealing, leading to multiple arrests across Cumbria. We need drug dealers to know they will be pursued if they try to trade in Cumbria.
- Ensuring police are at the forefront of response – Whether it be flooding or COVID- 19, Cumbria police are an essential part of our county’s emergency response and have more recently been integral to the fight against COVID-19 across Cumbria.
- Integrating blue light services – Emergency services already work extremely closely together.
Putting blue light services under one umbrella ensuring that the relationship between the police and fire service is cemented and blue light services are run as efficiently as possible within the county.
- Being available to residents across the county – With surgeries across Cumbria and being frequently available in your community to talk about the policing and crime issues that affect you and your community.
- Supporting victims of domestic violence – I have been working with charities and organisations to support victims of domestic violence in Cumbria. Working with and helping to support the work of Women’s Community Matters in Barrow, Women Out West in Whitehaven and Gateway in Carlisle means we now have real support for women and children across the county.
Raising awareness of this crime across Cumbria has given confidence to victims to speak out, and to get real help to deal with this awful crime that takes place behind closed doors.
