Officers on dedicated Operation Enhance hotspot patrols made a dozen arrests whilst working to reduce anti-social behaviour and serious violence around the county.
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 Carlisle, Barrow, Workington, Whitehaven, Kendal, Penrith, Maryport, Cleator Moor, Ulverston and Bowness-on-Windermere.
As of the end of February, the 18 hotspot areas have seen an average reduction in anti-social behaviour of around 36 per cent.
Chief Superintendent Andy Wilkinson said: “The data around the impact of these extra, high-visibility patrols is under constant review and is showing a consistent trend of reduction in reports of anti-social behaviour in the hotspot areas.
“The presence of the officers is having a positive effect, whilst it is also encouraging to see officers not hesitating to act when incidents occur whilst they are out on patrol, with 12 arrests recorded by patrol officers in February alone.”
Those arrests included:
- The arrest of three youths on 7 February on suspicion of burglary following a report of a break-in at a shop in Dalton Road, Carlisle.
- The arrest of a man in Workington on 9 February on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly and assaulting a police officer.
- The arrest of a man in Penrith town centre on 8 February on suspicion of possession of a Class A drug and possession of an offensive weapon.
- The arrest of a woman in Ulverston on 11 February who was wanted for breach of a court order.
- The arrest of a man on 20 February on suspicion of shoplifting and being in breach of a Criminal Behaviour Order banning him from the store.
In addition to the arrests, Operation Enhance officers also recorded 33 traffic offences and 39 stop searches, as well as having received 46 intelligence submissions.
Ch Supt Wilkinson said: “Officers are working proactively whilst on Operation Enhance patrols and are also being supported by enforcement officers from council colleagues who are using their own powers to assist in tackling anti-social behaviour in hotspot areas.
“We are encouraged by the amount of intel being received from members of the public, including those people who are approaching officers on Operation Enhance patrols to provide information about criminality in their area – information we can then act upon.”
Cumbria’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, David Allen, said: “Visible policing is one of my main priorities for Cumbria and the funding for Operation Enhance has helped towards providing more patrols in our top hotspots for ASB and serious violence. I promised more visibility of policing and I, together with Cumbria Constabulary are delivering on this and it is having an effect!
“A reduction in ASB by 36% is a massive achievement, it is really clear that the extra highly visible patrols are working on top of the 12 arrests in February.
“Operation Enhance is all about communities feeling safer for residents – I hope that those who live in these hotspot areas have noticed a difference and spotted more police presence on the streets. It’s what I promised they would see.
“As Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, I am the voice of the public – your voice- in Policing. If you live in one of these hotspots and haven’t seen a difference in the last year, please let me know by contacting me on 01768 217734 or at commissioner@cumbria-pcc.gov.uk.”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.
Find out more about Operation Enhance: Op Enhance | Cumbria Police