Anti-social behaviour, drugs and speeding are dealt with by Cumbria police’s neighbourhood policing teams – and the force is highlighting the work they have carried out to help make communities safer.
It said this week was a ‘week of action’ for the teams and it is putting a spotlight on how it has helped your community.
It said: “Crime and anti-social behaviour can have a detrimental and lasting impact on not only those directly affected, but also the wider community.
“Our officers and PCSOs work tirelessly with communities and partner agencies to ensure residents and businesses receive the best possible local policing service.”
So what have officers done in your neighbourhood?
Allerdale
In the last year police have been tackling issues such as youth anti-social behaviour, off road vehicles, e-scooters, speeding and drug activity.
Anti-social behaviour in Workington town centre has seen a response from police including a new community beat officer.
It said the work saw an 82 per cent reduction in calls for service, 68 per cent reduction in youth related crimes and a 67 per cent reduction in alcohol-related admissions to the West Cumberland Hospital.
Thirty-six teachers have been trained to educate children on alcohol use through the Alcohol Education Trust charity.
The Allerdale Local Focus Hub the team proactively co-ordinated joint community engagement, targeted foot patrols, multi-agency community events and longer-term solutions, including apprenticeships with local business for key offenders.
The neighbourhood policing teams also work with partner agencies to tackle issues within the community, and have supported Operation Respect which is a multi-agency initiative led by the Allerdale Local Focus Hub.
The project was launched in March 2021, due to the increase in fly-tipping across Allerdale and the negative impact it was having on the community.
The operation seen a multiagency approach taken with partners holding engagement days within the community and stop checks on vehicles with partners from DVLA, DVSA and Allerdale Borough Council which saw 178 vehicles stopped in July 2022 and several offences identified by each agency.
The initiative has been recognised as a national finalist in 2022 and 2023 in Keep Great Britain Tidy Awards.
During the week officers from the neighbourhood policing team will:
- Conduct a day of action in Workington town centre, targeting anti-social behaviour and offenders, this will be a multi-agency approach with Allerdale enforcement teams.
- PCSOs will attend Hopes Auction in Wigton to speak with the community about any issues they are experiencing and to offer crime prevention advice on Tuesday
- Hold a pop-up shop event on Wednesday to build on the Shopwatch scheme in Workington town centre.
- PCSOs will attend Mitchells Auction in Cockermouth on Friday to speak with the community about any issues they are experiencing and to offer crime prevention advice
Barrow
In Barrow the neighbourhood policing team are continuing to tackle anti-social behaviour across Barrow with hotspots identified in Walney – Mill Lane, Combe House and St Mary’s Vickerstown Park. Issues have also been identified in Askam following reports of young people throwing items and windows and kicking doors.
It is working with partners from the council and community groups to engage with young people as well as early intervention in schools to prevent criminal behaviour.
As a result of incidents at Combe House which is a derelict building that has been targeted by young people causing anti-social behaviour and fires, the issue was referred into the Barrow Local Focus Hub where partner agencies discussed the issues and what can be done to prevent more incidents.
As a result:
- A Section 29 notice was served on the developers
- A StreetSafe was carried out in the area
- Visits were made to schools
- CCTV and signs
Police said since this work was put in place, no further calls have been made to the Barrow Local Focus Hub to this location, however they were still carrying out patrols and monitoring the area.
This week there will be dedicated patrols carried across the week to target anti-social behaviour with support from the Child Centred Policing teams, and partner agencies.
- On Wednesday 25 January at 10.30am officers alongside Cumbria Fire and Rescue, Remedi and Safer Stronger Together will be in Askam.
- On Thursday 26 January from 2pm to 4pm. Officers will be joined by partners from NHS, Cumbria County Council, and Cumbria Fire and Rescue pod on Mill Lane.
- Officers will also be conducting talks within schools across the week, on Monday 23 January they will be at Walney School and on Tuesday St James.
Carlisle
In Carlisle, neighbourhood officers have been working with partners to tackle issues faced by our communities including anti-social behaviour, acquisitive crime, homelessness, road safety and public safety during the night-time economy.
In April, police and partners launched the Safer Streets Welfare Hub which has already supported a substantial number of vulnerable people who were out in the Carlisle city centre night-time economy.
The hub, on Court Square next to the main entrance of the train station, operates within an easy to identify red gazebo, on a Saturday night between 9pm and 3am.
Staffed by student volunteers from the University of Cumbria, Carlisle City Council Safer Street Officers and Carlisle’s Neighbourhood Policing Team, all staff at the hub have branded uniforms and are training in first aid, conflict resolution and safeguarding.
Facilities at the hub include a defibrillator, drunk test strips, drink protectors to avoid spiking, drug wipes, space blankets and a phone charger for those accessing the facility. Anyone feeling vulnerable or unsafe on a night out can visit the Welfare Hub for support.
The hub forms part of the Safety of Women at Night (SWaN) project, initially funded by a successful bid from Cumbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Peter McCall, to the Home Office’s SWaN Fund. The initiative is a pilot in the county. The potential for similar hubs across the county will be considered going forward.
Police said they were continuing to actively engage with SERCO and partner agencies weekly in relation to the use of hotels in Carlisle for asylum seekers. The force said: “We are regularly visiting the locations to ensure the impact on the wider community is kept to a minimum.”
During the week officers from the neighbourhood policing team will be:
- Conducting a road safety talk with the mini police at Bishop Harvey Goodwin School, PCSOs will be working with the local collision reduction officer.
- Patrols targeting anti-social behaviour in hotspot areas as part of our policing priorities in Raffles, New Harraby and Longtown.
- Joint operation with Carlisle City Council enforcement team to target begging. Police and partners from the homelessness team will be engaging with individuals and offering advice, support and ensuring the individual has accommodation.
- Officers will be holding community drop-in sessions across the area.
Copeland
n Copeland the neighbourhood policing has been addressing issues of anti-social behaviour in the Cleator area and PCSO Hollie Huck created a project to get young people to respect their area more. She approached local businesses to secure a £200 prize fund for a poster competition for local young people.
The poster was to be based around respect with winning entries being placed in business and identified hotspot locations of anti-social behaviour. Young people from the local primary schools, youth club and police cadets have been involved in the competition.
The neighbourhood policing team have also been working with partner agencies to tackle drug activity within the community.
In November, the neighbourhood policing teams intelligence gathering in relation to a cannabis smell in the area of King Street, Whitehaven led to a warrant being conducted. A cannabis farm was located with an estimated value of £2.2 million. The warrant resulted in two being charged for with production of cannabis and are to appear at Carlisle Crown Court in April this year.
The Copeland neighbourhood policing teams will be holding a mobile police desk in the below locations.
- Monday 23 January – Distington, Main Street outside McColls 1pm to 2.30pm.
- Tuesday 24 January -Top of the shops café, Meadow Road, Mirehouse 11am to 12.30pm
- Wednesday 25 January – Seascale beach car park 11.30am to 12.30pm
- Friday 27 January – Millom Library 2pm to 4pm
Officers and partner agencies are also holding a Talk n Tidy event in Cleator Moor on 26 January between 10am and noon, meeting at the Square. This is an opportunity for communities to speak with partners whilst tidying up their local area.
Eden
In Eden, the Neighbourhood Policing Team have been tackling a number of issues highlighted by the public as their main concerns and includes anti-social behaviour, rural crime and drug-related activity.
Rural crime is a priority for Cumbria Constabulary. Officers and PCSOs in Eden engage with the local farming community and regularly run initiatives across policing departments, with neighbouring forces and with partner agencies, targeting this area of crime.
Eden is also the first area in the trial of mounted volunteers. Six volunteers are supporting police officers to deter criminal activity, provide crime prevention advice on rural crime and build relationships within our rural communities.
During Neighbourhood Policing Week officers from the Neighbourhood Policing Team will be carrying out several daily activities to target criminality and engage with our communities and will be showcasing this work.
Officers will be attending Penrith Auction Mart on Wednesday 25th Jan at 8.30am to engage with local farmers.
This provides an opportunity to discuss face to face the concerns of the farming community and the measures police are taking to combat rural crimes. Specialist staff from firearms licensing and crime prevention will also be present to offer advice.
Local residents have raised concerns about dangerous and anti-social driving in Penrith. The team will be showcasing the type of joint working they undertake with specialist colleagues from our Mobile Support Group to educate drivers and take enforcement action.
Inspector Ross Woods, Eden Neighbourhood Policing Team, said “I have recently taken over as the inspector for Eden Neighbourhood Policing Team, we are continuing to tackle issues that local residents say have the most detrimental impact on their local area.
“Eden is a predominantly rural community, and we are absolutely committed to supporting those communities and bringing offenders to justice when they target farms and rural properties.
“Anti-social behaviour continues to be a priority for us in Penrith, Appleby, Alston and Shap and we will be continuing to address these issues working with a range of partner organisations.”
South Lakes
The South Lakes neighbourhood policing team have been tackling a number of issues within the community including anti-social behaviour, rural crime and road safety.
Some of the actions the team takes to prevent these issues are early intervention. The neighbourhood policing team throughout the year visit schools, groups and individuals in the community to educate them on issues. This includes speaking to young people about the consequences of being involved in anti-social behaviour or educating them on how to stay safe when walking in the dark.
During the week officers from the neighbourhood policing team will be
Monday 23 January
- Sedbergh anti-social behaviour and school parking patrols. Also targeting anti-social driving and speeding
- Anti-social behaviour day of action in Westmorland Shopping centre
- Multi agency work with Cumbria County Council in Windermere
- Litter picks with schools in Windermere
Tuesday 24 January
- Kendal School visit by PCSO to talk about anti-social behaviour
- Tackling anti-social drivers in the Booths, Ulverston area
Wednesday 25 January
- Kendal event in town centre at HSBC on fraud and anti-social behaviour.
- Patrols in the area of Helm Close, Windermere and multi-agency drop in
- Tackling anti-social drivers Ulverston
Thursday 26 January
- Crooklands Auction mart rural crime drop in
- Patrols in the following areas, Helm Close, Windermere, Ambleside area and Ulverston Town
- Tackling anti-social drivers in Ulverston
- School parking patrols in Pennigton
- Police desk is being held Great Urswick
Friday 27 January
- Kendal School visit to talk about anti-social behaviour
- High visibility patrols in Kendal
Saturday 28 January
- Patrols in hot spot areas in Stainton
- Bike marking event in Ulverston rural
Sunday 29 January
- Patrols in hot spot areas in Stainton
- Multi agency event to address sheep worrying in Coniston
Inspector Grant Kelso, South Lakes Neighbourhood Policing Team, said “We are continuing to tackle issues that are affecting the communities of South Lakes and we ask you continue to report these to us and our partners.
“As in other areas of Cumbria in the South Lakes we are looking at introducing community beat officers to further improve our local services and provide a regular face to build relationships within our communities.”
