Police officers are cutting anti-social behaviour in the county by working hundreds of extra hours on the streets of Cumbria as part of Operation Enhance – with antisocial behaviour in hotspot areas down 36.7 per cent compared to last year.
Operation Enhance sees extra police patrols in areas identified as hotspots for anti-social behaviour and/or serious violence across the county.
The operation has been made possible thanks to £1 million of extra funding secured by Cumbria’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner from the Government’s Hotspot Response Fund to target anti-social behaviour (ASB) and serious violence in hotspot areas across the county.
The operation sees extra patrols in 18 areas identified by statistical analysis as the county's hotspot areas of anti-social behaviour and serious violence. These areas include areas of Penrith, Carlisle, Barrow, Workington, Whitehaven, Kendal, Maryport, Cleator Moor, Ulverston and Bowness-on-Windermere.
The operation has so far coincided with a significant reduction in antisocial behaviour across the hotspot areas compared to the previous year whilst serious violence is down considerably in hotspot areas when compared to the rest of the county.
Three months into the operation, more than 720 hours of additional patrols have been undertaken – including 240 hours in September alone.
Over the first three months of the operation 115 stop and searches have been conducted, 309 intelligence submissions have been submitted and ASB powers have been used on 11 occasions.
In addition, the Operation Enhance officers have made a total of 33 arrests – with 11 of those arrests occurring during September.
The operation has so far coincided with a significant reduction in antisocial behaviour across the hotspot areas, compared to the previous year whilst instances of serious violence are reduced significantly in hotspot areas, compared to the rest of the county.
Hotspot policing is in operation in Penrith Town Centre and New Square as part of Operation Enhance – Cumbria Police’s crackdown on anti-social behaviour and serious violence by the means of extra police patrols.
Eden NPT’s drop-in centre, located within the hotspot area, in Devonshire Arcade, has been running since August and has had over 10 regular sessions held since it opened. As well as a place for residents to meet local officers and raise concerns, the drop in centre also provides a visible policing presence within hotspot area to deter and prevent any ASB and serious violent offending.
Alongside the hotspot patrols, PCSO Mark Robson has been visiting local schools in the area to talk about reported ASB issues and providing hotspot policing during peak hours.
In the Kendal and Eden area, during the first three months of the operation, hotspot patrol officers have made 4 arrests, and made 19 stop searches. In addition to this they have received more than 50 intelligence submissions from the public.
Eden NPT Inspector Mo Bibby said: “Penrith Town Centre and New Square are busy parts of our town and by using hotspot patrols we are able to prevent and reduce ASB and crime.
“A recent success has seen us work alongside our Child Centred Policing Team colleagues and the Youth Offending Service, in relation to two youth ASB nominals in the area. Since our positive enforcement no further offences have been committed.
“We know our hotspot patrols are making a difference and we will continue to carry out patrols in areas within our communities where we know crime or anti-social behaviour is taking place.”
To further tackle persistent ASB issues in the town, the Eden NPT have secured an anti-social behaviour injunction (ASBI) against Harvey Sadik, 18, of Greystone Park, Penrith. On 12 September Sadik was sentenced to 34 days in prison after breaching a previously imposed ASBI. His injunction was also extended for another year.
The civil injunction order imposed by the courts forbids Sadik from:
▪️ Using or threatening to use violence towards any person either by himself or encouraging any person to do so
▪️Engaging in any conduct which causes or is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to any person either by himself or encouraging any person to do so
▪️Being under the influence of alcohol or drug in a public place.
This order shall remain in place until 15 September 2025.
Inspector Bibby continued: “Extensive work was carried out by the Eden Neighbourhood Policing Team to achieve this civil injunction which will prevent further violent and anti-social behaviour carried out by this individual.
“The injunction carries a power of arrest. This helps us manage behaviour more effectively and the courts have greater powers to sentence should a breach occur.
“Eden NPT will continue to proactively target those who cause disorder and nuisance in our communities.”
Cumbria’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, David Allen, said: “Tackling anti-social behaviour is one of my key priorities and is also a public priority highlighted to me by the public in my recent Police, Fire and Crime Survey. It will be the number one priority in my forthcoming Police, Fire and Crime Plan.
“This funding has helped put extra patrols in our hotspot areas and tackle ASB and serious violence.
“These extra patrols are combatting these crime types and I hope that our residents are seeing a difference and feel safer in their own communities.
“Tackling crime is the priority but I also want to see the wider effects less crime has on our great county. I want our residents and visitors to feel safer, to see less criminal or nuisance behaviour and to have growing trust in their Policing services.
“If you live in one of the Hotspots – which you can find on the Cumbria Police website – and have or haven’t seen a difference, please let me know at commissioner@cumbria-pcc.gov.uk. I am your voice in Policing and I want to hear your views.”
The increased patrols in the target areas began on 1st July and these patrols will continue to operate through until at least the end of March 2025.
T/Chief Superintendent Andy Wilkinson said: “Three months into this operation and what we are seeing is a tangible and significant impact on antisocial behaviour and instances of serious violence in the targeted communities.
“Whilst the primary purpose of the operation is increased visibility, I am proud that officers are also swift to respond to breaking incidents in their locality. Their swift actions is resulting in people who negatively impact their own communities via drugs offences or shoplifting being arrested and taken to custody.
“Our hotspot patrol officers on the ground are feeding back the positivity they are seeing on the ground – from praise for action taken against youths to shopkeepers reporting seeing a reduction in shoplifting.
“The funding secured by the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Office has ensured we are fully committed to this operation well into 2025 so will continue to be seen and action will continue to be taken in the weeks and months ahead.”
As part of the operation, the public is encouraged to report antisocial behaviour by visiting the constabulary’s website Report antisocial behaviour | Cumbria Police or our non-emergency number 101.
In an emergency always call 999. Information and intelligence from the public is vital so we can work together to tackle issues in their communities.
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