Neighbourhood Policing Teams in Penrith and across Cumbria have been highlighting the work they do all year round to tackle anti-social behaviour issues as part of a national anti-social behaviour awareness week.
During a dedicated week of action between the 18th and 24th November which aimed to raise awareness of anti-social behaviour and the issues it can bring to communities, officers, alongside various partner agencies, targeted local issues and engaged with residents.
Anti-social behaviour is a priority for Cumbria Constabulary and it’s Operation Enhance initiative, which sees extra patrols in areas identified as hotspots for anti-social behaviour.
The forces Operation Enhance sees extra patrols in 18 areas identified by hotspot areas of anti-social behaviour and serious violence across Cumbria. These hotspots include areas of Penrith alongside areas of Carlisle, Barrow, Workington, Whitehaven, Kendal, Maryport, Cleator Moor, Ulverston and Bowness-on-Windermere.
As a result of work carried out by local officers and the high visibility patrols from Op Enhance, The force has said that Cumbria has seen a reduction in ASB by 17.2% from April 2024 compared to the same time period in 2023.
In the Penrith hotspot patrols were carried out in the mornings in and around New Squares in Penrith to coincide with school times and in response to reports of ASB in the area.
On 20 November, the team were also out in the Pategill area of Penrith with Castles & Coasts carrying out a ‘Street Safe’ leaflet drop.
StreetSafe is a service that allows you to report safety concerns in public places without giving us your name (anonymously). This includes issues like poorly lit streets, abandoned buildings, or vandalism, as well as instances where you feel unsafe due to someone following or verbally abusing you.
Chief Superintendent Andy Wilkinson, the force’s Neighbourhood Policing lead, said: “The week of action was an opportunity for our teams to highlight the work they do every day to tackle anti-social behaviour.
“As well as responding to incident of ASB, a great deal of work is carried out behind the scenes to prevent further incidents occurring.
“To enable us to provide an effective policing response to ASB incidents, we need the public to tell us about incidents that are happening in your local area. By reporting incidents to us this allows us to create a greater intelligence picture and, more importantly, allows to take appropriate action to investigate and deter further incidents.
“We know how much ASB can disrupt and cause misery to the lives of residents in our county, and I would encourage anyone with any issues to make a report or speak to a member of your local policing team.”
Cumbria’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, David Allen, said: “Anti-social behaviour is the crime-type that is most likely to affect the majority of us.
“It can cause intimidation and fear in residents and have negative consequences on a community, it can drive business away from our town centres and has an insidious effect on our neighbourhoods.
“As Commissioner, I have pledged to tackle ASB and increase visible Policing. Extra funding such as Operation Enhance and Safer Streets that my Office has brought into the county have helped reduce ASB in our hotspots areas but I am dedicated to ensuring that all of our communities feel safer for everyone.
“This week of action provides a really positive snapshot of the work that takes place all year to protect you and to keep you safe.
“If you are experiencing ASB, please report it to the Police.
“As your Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner, my role is to be the voice of residents within Cumbria, in respect of the Police and Fire services – I am your voice. If any member of the public has a concern about ASB or crime in their area, or around the Constabulary or Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service, please raise it with me at commissioner@cumbria-pcc.gov.uk or call 01768 217734.”
You can report incidents of anti-social behaviour online at www.cumbria.police.uk/report-it.
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