Top officials from across the county met this week, to discuss the best
partnership approach to anti-social behaviour (ASB) in Cumbria.

ASB was top of the agenda when Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC),
Peter McCall, chaired a meeting from across the criminal justice
agencies, public health, local authorities and community safety
officers, in response to correspondence recently received.

25.7% of young people that completed the Safer Cumbria Partnership
serious violence survey 2021, stated that ASB was an issue in their
communities and 57% of ex-offenders who attended a focus group as part
of this work, stated that their offending pattern started with incidents
of ASB (Safer Cumbria Partnership 2021).

Talking about the conference, Peter McCall comments: “We cannot simply
arrest our way out of ASB. It is essential that we work together, across
all partner agencies, to ensure every aspect of prevention is explored,
before ASB becomes an enforcement issue.

“ASB is disruptive and shows a complete lack consideration for others.
It includes a range of behaviours that can cause nuisance, annoyance,
harm or distress to a person, with examples including vehicle
abandonment, trespassing, vandalism, harassment and anti-social
drinking.

“Becoming a victim of ASB can be an extremely distressing and upsetting
experience. If left unchecked, it can ruin people’s lives and devastate
communities.

“This is why it is vital, that working with key stakeholders through the
Safer Cumbria Partnership, we come together and get to the heart of what
creates and causes ASB issues in the first place.

“It is only by working together and developing a public health approach
to this issue, that we can identify hotspot trends, patterns in
behaviour and act collectively. The outcomes created from today’s
conference, have led to numerous follow up actions for partners to go
away and work with and I look forward to seeing what progress has been
made in our next Safer Cumbria Partnership meeting.

“Over the next few weeks, I will be speaking with the Chief Constable
about how we can further develop our approach to ASB in the county. In
addition, my office – the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner,
will be looking at how opportunities within the Levelling Up Fund and
the Prosperity Fund, can help to support new ASB initiatives within the
county.”

Superintendent Matt Pearman, Cumbria Constabulary said: “We all have a
role to play in preventing and disrupting anti-social behaviour.

“Our local policing teams work closely with partner agencies each day to
tackle issues that they witness or are reported to us.

“ASB will not be tolerated. It negatively affects individuals, their
wider families and whole communities.

“Our communities have their own role to play in preventing ASB.
Reporting incidents or concern is crucial in ensuring we have a full
picture of what is happening in our communities, as well as importantly
allowing us to respond robustly.”

Support services for those experiencing ASB includes:

StreetSafe

Online reporting tool that provides anonymous reporting
on ASB issues and perceptions of local safety by entering street name
and postcode of the area causing concern.

https://www.police.uk/pu/notices/streetsafe/street-safe/

Police
In an emergency call 999
For all other reporting, call 101
Or report online at www.cumbria.police.uk/report-it/reportacrime
Livechat function   available at
www.cumbria.police.uk/report-it/101-live-chat
Help & Advice for Victims – Cumbria Constabulary

Victim Support
Support is provided regardless of when the ASB crime happened or if it
has been reported to the police. Opening hours Monday – Friday 8am –
6pm. Call 0300 30 30 157

Live Chat service for those who can’t speak over the phone – 24/7 online
chat via victimsupport.org.uk [5]
24hr Support line 08 08 16 89 111

My Support Space Online guides – victim selects how they want to be
supported after ASB  and crime, covering topics such as difficult
emotions, coping strategies, trauma and sleep  victimsupport.org.uk [5]

Crimestoppers
www.crimestoppers-uk.org [6]
Call 0800 555 111

Action on Fraud
http://www.actionfraud.police.uk [7](24 hours a day, 7 days a week)
Telephone: 0300 123 2040