Crack down on anti-social behaviour on roads in 15-week police operation

Cumbria police is launching a new 15-week operation promoting road safety while targeting anti-social behaviour.

Operation Colossus will work alongside Operation Enhance – the constabulary’s long-standing crackdown on anti-social behaviour in hotspot areas.

Focus over the 15 weeks will be on a different Operation Enhance hotspot area each week.

The operation will begin on Monday, August 4 and will focus on areas of the county including Workington, Whitehaven, Maryport, Carlisle, Ulverston, Bowness, Barrow, Kendal and Penrith, before concluding in November.

Inspector Alex Johnson of Cumbria Police’s Operational Support Unit said: “As Operation Spotlight, a national month-long roads policing operation targeting dangerous driver behaviour comes to a close, we launch a 15-week policing operation focusing on road safety and anti-social behaviour.

“This operation, which targets offending that residents in our county have raised as a concern, is further action that we are taking as part of our ongoing commitment to neighbourhood policing and the communities we serve.

“Over the course of the 15 weeks, operational support officers, including from the constabulary’s dedicated Roads Policing Unit and the Firearms Support Unit, will work side-by-side with Neighbourhood Policing Team officers.

“As the Neighbourhood Policing Team officers target anti-social behaviour and serious violence as part of Operation Enhance, operational support officers will support them by targeting anti-social driving – from speeding and dangerous driving to drug and drink driving.”

The work of officers will include road checks in target areas and pursuing people engaged in criminal activity on the county’s road network.

As well as enforcement, the operation will include education and engagement, alongside partner agencies.

Cumbria’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner David Allen, said: “Anti-social driving and anti-social use of ebikes and escooters are issues that I hear on a regular basis from residents across the county. Near misses and misuse are a regular report into my office.

“I am pleased to see the constabulary conducting a targeted operation in respect of this modern scourge and also happy to highlight the work that they complete year-round to reduce anti-social driving.

“I will be going out with officers as part of this operation in a couple of weeks to see just how they are tackling these offences, and I hope that the public feel reassured that the Constabulary and I are taking their concerns seriously. If you raise concerns to me, they will be dealt with.

“Cumbria is a safe place to live but I, and the constabulary, are always aiming to make it safer and more welcoming.”