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A Cumbria Constabulary initiative to crack down on anti-social behaviour (ASB) and/or serious violence across the county continues to see results.
Known as Operation Enhance, the initiative involves extra police patrols in 18 areas previously identified as ASB hotspots, including areas of Carlisle, Barrow, Workington, Whitehaven, Kendal, Penrith, Maryport, Cleator Moor, Ulverston and Bowness-on-Windermere.
Cumbria hotspot patrol officers made a further 11 arrests in October while targeting ASB and serious violence in the county. As well as providing high-visibility patrols, these officers also proactively respond to criminality and safeguarding issues that arise in their patrol locality.
Officers on patrols have also reported positive interactions with the public. A couple of officers on patrol in Workington reported a positive interaction with youths who had previously had issues with the police in the past but were still happy and encouraged to see officers in the town centre.
Over the first four months of Operation Enhance, 143 stop and searches have been conducted, 358 intelligence submissions have been submitted and ASB powers have been used on 13 occasions.
In addition, the Operation Enhance officers have made a total of 44 arrests.
Operation Enhance has been made possible thanks to £1m of extra funding secured by Cumbria’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner from the government’s Hotspot Response Fund.
“Operation Enhance is all about making our communities safer for you – the residents of Cumbria.
“These 18 hotspots were identified by looking at data from the past four years and finding out where most of our ASB and serious violence takes place so that we can use the extra £1m to put extra resources where they are needed. This is a really intelligent, evidence led use of resources and money to best effect.
“Four months in and we are seeing the results from our extra patrols.
“Cumbria as a whole, has seen a reduction in anti-social behaviour by 17.2 per cent from April 2024 compared to the same time period in 2023 so we know that Operation Enhance is having a positive effect on our communities.
David Allen, Cumbria’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner
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