A crackdown on anti-social behaviour in Carlisle and Barrow has been awarded £760,000 from the Government.
The cash will pay for improved lighting, new equipment for council officers – including body-worn cameras – outreach workers and workshops for youngsters to help them understand consequences of anti-social behaviour.
Carlisle will get £354,638 and Barrow £405,470 following a successful bid by Cumbria’s crime commissioner Peter McCall.
The aim of both bids is to reduce anti-social behaviour around the city and town as well as hotspot areas with a focus on women, girls, and other vulnerable groups.
Carlisle’s Collier Lane, Mary Street and Rosemary Lane in Carlisle will receive improved street lighting. The skate park at Bitts Park and Keenan Park will also receive upgraded lighting.
In Barrow, the back lanes to the rear of Cavendish Street and Scott Street will receive street lighting as they were identified for reoccurring anti-social behaviour regularly and police find patrolling difficult due to the darkness.
Carlisle City Council’s enforcement officers and Barrow Borough Council’s safer and stronger streets officers will receive extra equipment including body-worn cameras, body armour and radios, and further training. The body-worn cameras will aim to reassure residents, challenge poor behaviours and provide evidence to the Police, when necessary.
The funding will pay for outreach workers who work on the streets where they are needed, specifically targeting young people who have been identified as causing anti-social behaviour.
Years seven and eight from schools will receive Your Life, You Choose workshops on the consequences of poor life choices and the impact on others.
Reparation work will also be offered to victims and offenders to repair harm caused by anti-social behaviour.
Remedi, currently commissioned by the crime commissioner in Cumbria, will provide this service. The aim is to help victims recover, give them the opportunity to discuss their case with professionals, and have their voice heard by the offender the harm caused.
This will also help the offender understand impact of their behaviour allowing them to make amends and resolve the situation without Police and Criminal Justice involvement.
PCSOs will receive additional crime prevention training to help them support victims of anti-social behaviour. The training will also help PCSOs identify problems within the community and provide a more evidence-based approach to finding a solution.
Mr McCall, said: “These bids really are a fantastic opportunity that will help benefit the residents of Carlisle and Barrow.
“Anti-social behaviour is an issue that affects many of us and can cause fear and intimidation, which is not acceptable – everyone has the right to feel safe in their community.
“Barrow, Carlisle, Workington and Whitehaven have all previously benefitted from Safer Streets Funding and I am sure we will see the same level of benefits from the fourth round of funding.
“Anti-social behaviour is a community issue and by providing all these measures, everyone can work together to make our communities more welcoming and safer for all.
“I look forward to working alongside the Police, Barrow Borough Council, Carlisle City Council and other partners to help deliver the Safer Streets plans and make Cumbria a safer place to live.”
