The Copeland Neighbourhood Policing Team have secured a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) on 4 February at North and West Magistrates’ Court.
The order was secured against Matthew Jones, 28, of Corkickle, Whitehaven for two years, the conditions are to not enter any of the shops on the Whitehaven Shop Watch Scheme or any shops displaying the Whitehaven Shop Watch Scheme logo. Entry to Morrisons Pharmacy, Flatt Walks, Whitehaven is permitted for purpose of collecting medication.
The Criminal Behaviour Order follows Matthew being sentenced of three counts of shoplifting on 21 November 2024 at Spar, Hensingham, 14 November 2024 at Home Bargains, Whitehaven and 13 December 2024 at Greggs, Whitehaven.
A police spokesperson said: “This Criminal Behaviour Order will prevent Jones from further criminality and help protect business owners and local residents.
“I would encourage anyone who witnesses the terms of such a court order being broken to contact the police immediately. The punishment for breaking the terms of a CBO can be up to five years in prison.”
Anyone who witnesses Matthew Jones breaching the terms of his CBO should contact the police.
This work forms part of Operation Enhance.
Operation Enhance is funded after Cumbria’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner secured an additional £1m of extra funding from the Government’s Hotspot Response Fund to target anti-social behaviour (ASB) and serious violence in hotspot areas across the county.
Further information on the operation can be found here - Op Enhance | Cumbria Police