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. In response to the successful bid, Op Enhance is Cumbria Police’s new county-wide crackdown on anti-social behaviour (ASB) and serious violence, alongside partners including Cumberland Council, Westmorland and Furness Council and Local Focus Hub partners.

Operation Enhance will see extra police patrols in areas identified as hotspots for anti-social behaviour and/or serious violence across the county.

Tough action is being taken against offenders by Police and partner agencies, utilising the full force of the law, as well as civil powers, to target those people whose behaviour is blighting their local community.

The operation will see 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.

The operation will see officers targeting all types of anti-social behaviour which blight communities from youths carrying out criminal damage to putting in doors to shut down drug dealing operations.

These high visibility patrols will also target those who commit serious violence in these areas too – including arson, robbery and violence including sexual assaults – to ensure the safety of our communities.

Cumbria’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, David Allen, said: “One of my manifesto commitments was to tackle anti-social behaviour and to get more visible policing on our streets. This £1m of extra funding will provide Cumbria Constabulary with the ability to tackle and prevent ASB and serious violence more effectively by getting more officers out on the streets.

“This is a fantastic opportunity to make Cumbria safer and better for all who live, work and visit these hotspots.

“These 18 hotspots have been identified by looking over the last four years’ worth of data and reports to ensure that we are placing our resources in the right place so that our communities are safer.

“ASB is continuously raised with my office as an issue for the public, so I am dedicated to tackling your concerns.

“Throughout this Operation, I will be holding the Chief Constable to account to ensure that Officers are out and doing everything within their power to reduce the crimes that have created these hotspot locations.

“However, they can’t do it alone. I would urge residents across Cumbria to continue to report ASB to the Police on 101 or 999 in an emergency.”

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.

Tackling ASB and serious violence is not just an issue for policing – local community safety partners, and our communities themselves, have an important role to play.

As part of the operation, the public will be encouraged to report antisocial behaviour by visiting the constabulary’s website www.cumbria.police.uk 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.

Chief Superintendent Mick Bird said: “Anti-social behaviour is regularly identified as one of the biggest concerns members of the public have.

“Operation Enhance – and the funding being dedicated to it – will enable our officers to tackle the issue more effectively than ever before.

“Anti-social behaviour can ruin lives. It is completely unacceptable.

“It is also unacceptable to threaten and commit serious violence, this has a lasting impact on individuals and the wider community.

“Operation Enhance will aim to not just react to anti-social behaviour or violence but stop it before it starts by putting in place visible patrols by Officers and close working with our partners in hotspot areas. Not only will these officers be a visible deterrent, but they will also be in position to take swift and decisive action if any incidents occur in their locality.”

Cumberland Councillor Denise Rollo, Executive Member for Sustainable, Resilient and Connected Places, said: “Anti-social behaviour is a priority for the Cumberland community safety partnership, and we also support the police, fire, and crime commissioner in tackling serious violence. Anti-social behaviour can have a huge impact on people’s lives, as well as businesses. If left unchecked, it can have a serious adverse effect on individuals, communities, and the environment.

“The three-council led local focus hubs across Cumberland have been working closely with the police and other partners involved in community safety, sharing information and intelligence relating to anti-social behaviour and serious violence in our communities to support Operation Enhance.

“The community safety partnership will continue to work closely with police and other partners to tackle these important issues across Cumberland.”

The 18 areas that will get additional visible patrols are:

• Furness:
  • Barrow – Hindpool
  • Barrow – Salthouse
  • Barrow – Town Centre
  • Barrow – Barrow Island
• Allerdale & Copeland:
  • Workington Town Centre
  • Maryport Town Centre
  • Maryport South
  • Whitehaven Town Centre
  • Cleator Moor
• Carlisle & Wigton
  • Botchergate
  • Carlisle City Centre
  • Grey Street / Fusehill Street
  • Dowbeck
  • Raffles Avenue / Shadygrove Road, Carlisle
• Kendal & Eden
  • Penrith Town and New Square
  • Kendal Town Centre
  • Ulverston Town Centre
  • Bowness on Windermere