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.

Over recent months the South Lakes NPT have been tackling the issues which matter the most to local communities.

Local residents on the Hallgarth Estate in Kendal said that an off road type motorbike was causing issues with noise and dangerous riding. As a result a local Community Beat Officer briefed two new student Police Officers on the issue. Within an hour the motorbike had been seen by the officers and was seized using powers under the Road Traffic Act.

Local residents in Ulverston have reported concerns in summer about crime and anti-social behaviour. Targeted Police work by the local Community Beat Officer identified a small number of youths as being responsible for the majority of issues. Among the action taken the ringleader was arrested and charged to Youth Court for 12 offences.

As well as action on drug supply officers from the team have also been focusing on retail crime in the run up to Christmas, supporting local businesses and providing regular high visibility Police presence in Kendal Town Centre. The Team have been utilising a pioneering new scheme ‘Operation Retail’ to increase the number of people prosecuted for retail thefts and reduce the time taken to send them to Court. This work continues into 2024 with the arrest and charge last week of two males involved in high value alcohol thefts across the country. The men have been remanded in Prison awaiting sentencing by the Crown Court in February.

The team also started an operation in December to tackle boat thefts in the South Lakes. Operation Headway was formed to tackle these thefts and after early morning action conducted in West and South Yorkshire on Monday 18th December, three people were arrested on suspicion of theft. They remain on police bail while investigations continue. The team are continuing to develop this operation ensuring that they work closely with other agencies based on and around Windermere and Coniston as well as lake users to combat this type of crime.

During the week of action, officers and staff from the South Lakes Neighbourhood Policing team will be out tackling anti-social behaviour and drugs issues.

Police desks will also be held in each locality, giving residents an opportunity to meet their local officers. Officers will be present at the following locations:

• Tuesday 23rd January – The Pit Stop, Broughton in Furness. 1000-1100
• Wednesday 24th January – Ambleside Police Station, Rydal Road. 10:00-12:00
• Wednesday 24th January – ASDA, Burton Road, Kendal. 10:00 – 12:00
• Friday 26th January – Booths, Windermere. 10:00-12:00
• Friday 26th January – Urswick Parish Rooms. 0930-1100

Inspector Ross Woods, South Lakes Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “The activity we’re conducting this week in South Lakes is just a snapshot of what our officers and staff within South lakes NPT do all year round.

“We will continue to ensure that our neighbourhood officers are placed in areas where you need them and address the issues that matter the most to you.

“I would encourage you to attend the local police desks and get to know your local officers who are placed within your communities to pursue criminals and prevent and tackle neighbourhood crime. If you can’t attend on one of the advertised days then our online social media continues to give local residents the opportunity to see some of the wide variety of work undertaken and some of the excellent results achieved.

“Please continue to report issues and concerns to us so that we can act on them. Anyone with information can speak to a local officer or report via our website.”

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 South Lakes safe.

You can report online at www.cumbria.police.uk/report-it.