Our Neighbourhood Policing Teams work tirelessly throughout the year to support the communities they serve by protecting vulnerable people and keeping people safe.

Throughout the week, beginning 22 January 2024, we will be highlighting some of the work our Neighbourhood Policing Teams (NPTs) do across Cumbria and recognising the efforts put in on a daily basis to help tackle issues that matter to our communities most.

The teams, made up of Inspectors, Sergeants, PCs, Community Beat Officers, PCSOs and volunteers, work with partner agencies and local communities to talk openly about concerns and put actions in place to prevent and reduce crime and anti-social behaviour to ensure residents and businesses receive the best possible local policing service.

In Barrow the Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) have continued to tackle crime, anti-social behaviour and road safety issues throughout the town, focussing activity around hotspots within the community.

Over the Christmas period this included supporting a safe Night Time Economy, with dedicated foot patrols tasked with policing the Town Centre and other licensed premises making 186 visits to licensed premises across the Furness area in December.

The team also focussed on road safety by supporting Operation Limit, tackling drink and drug driving through the use of mobile patrols and static vehicle checkpoints across Barrow, Dalton and Askam. This combined activity resulted in the arrest of several drink and drug drivers, but also the seizure of cars, bike and e-scooters without insurance or a valid MOT.

The team also supported our business communities with dedicated patrols to deter and detect retail theft in the run up to Christmas.

Barrow has also benefited from two new Community Beat Officers recently, focussing on the Walney, Ormsgill, Parkside and Hawcoat areas.

During the week of action, the NPT will be holding a number of Police Desks in community locations for the public to come and speak with their local officers:

• Roundhouse, Walney, 1:00pm-3:00pm,  Monday 22nd January 2024
• Barrow Market Hall, 11:00am – 1:00pm , Wednesday 24th January 2024
• Abbots Vale Community Centre, Barrow – 10am-11:30am Thursday 25th January 2024
• Roose Cons Club, Barrow – 11:30am – 1:00pm Thursday 25th January 2024

The desks are an opportunity for local residents to attend, speak to their local officer and raise any concerns directly.

The team will also be out and about engaging with the local communities and local schools.

Inspector Damien Mottram, Barrow Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “This week of action is another opportunity for our communities in the Barrow area to speak with their local policing teams about the issues that matter most to them. Whilst we will use crime and incident data to support our decision-making around priority areas, we also know that information from our communities is vital to identifying problems, tackling criminality and keeping the Furness area a safe place to live, work and visit.”

“There will be a variety of things going on and we hope it offers an insight into some of the initiatives your local team carry out on a weekly basis.”

“Cumbria Constabulary are committed to keeping our communities safe, and I would encourage anyone who has any concerns to get in touch with us.”

Cumbria’s Deputy Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, Mike Johnson, said: “Neighbourhood Policing Team’s (NPTs) are incredibly important as they tackle local concerns around crime and ensure that these crimes do not escalate to more serious offences.

“Weeks of action such as Neighbourhood Policing Week provide us with the opportunity to showcase key examples of what the Police do year-round from tackling crime to educating and engaging with residents.

“The addition of Community Beat Officers as part of the NPTs across the county over the last year have made a huge difference in communities and we have seen a reduction in anti-social behaviour in areas across Cumbria.

“Neighbourhood Policing relies on the public to report crime and concerns so I would encourage everyone to report anything illegal or suspicious to 101 or 999 in an emergency. Together we can make Cumbria an even safer place to live.”

Cumbria’s Deputy Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, Mike Johnson, said: “Neighbourhood Policing Team’s (NPTs) are incredibly important as they tackle local concerns around crime and ensure that these crimes do not escalate to more serious offences.

“Weeks of action such as Neighbourhood Policing Week provide us with the opportunity to showcase key examples of what the Police do year-round from tackling crime to educating and engaging with residents.

“The addition of Community Beat Officers as part of the NPTs across the county over the last year have made a huge difference in communities and we have seen a reduction in anti-social behaviour in areas across Cumbria.

“Neighbourhood Policing relies on the public to report crime and concerns so I would encourage everyone to report anything illegal or suspicious to 101 or 999 in an emergency. Together we can make Cumbria an even safer place to live.”

You can sign up to your monthly local neighbourhood policing team newsletter here to receive updates and information on what your teams have been doing.
Please report any incidents of crime or anti-social behaviour to us, to help our policing teams keep Barrow safe.
You can report online at www.cumbria.police.uk/report-it.
If a crime is in progress always call 999.
You can also phone on 101.
Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.