A call has been made to spend £20,000 to tackle anti-social behaviour in Carlisle.
The Conservative leadership of Carlisle City Council will be asked to release £20,000 from the revenue budget to support action against anti-social behaviour in the city centre.
If the executive agree on Monday, the cash will support activities to reduce the number of anti-social behaviour incidents developed in collaboration with partners through Carlisle Local Focus Hub.
The efforts are likely to focus on the Night Safe project led by Cumbria police and University of Cumbria, designed to make Carlisle’s night time economy safer.
The move follows an agreement to pass control of Carlisle Local Focus Hub – a neighbourhood policing scheme – to the city council.
A report prepared for the meeting of the executive says: “Release of the budget, pending approval of the proposed changes, will facilitate any urgent actions agreed to address any emerging priorities.
“Expenditure will be approved by the deputy chief executive in this interim period following discussion with the portfolio holder as appropriate.”
Communities, health and wellbeing portfolio holder Elizabeth Mallinson said: “It is important that anti-social behaviour is nipped in the bud.
“On a fairly regular basis, our fire officers when they’re going on a call-out get targeted. It seems to be people who want to have a pop at authority.
“It’s because we are concerned about what’s going on that we’re actually doing this and it is important that we make sure these things are done.
“We hope that the money for anti-social behaviour in the town centre will be able to put more people on the ground and take action.”
Incidents of anti-social behaviour seen in recent weeks have included the up-rooting of benches in the city centre; young people spitting and swearing in the Market Hall and residents being subjected to verbal abuse.
Councillors have now said that enough is enough.
Labour councillor for Currock and Upperby Chris Wills welcomed the news that funding will be allocated to tackle anti-social behaviour.
He said that anti-social behaviour on e-bikes should be a top priority: “It needs some smart thinking. There’s a problem that has just got worse during the pandemic.
“It’s become disturbingly normal for people on two wheels to ride at speed and aggressively. We need to do something about that.
“What I’m seeing added to the mix and it’s obviously a minority, is people who seem to be in disguise, they’ll be wearing COVID masks or a balaclava.”
He said that this makes it difficult for the public to distinguish between anti-social behaviour and “an escape from a crime”.
