Six months into Cumbria Constabulary’s dedicated operation tackling antisocial behaviour and serious violence in the county has resulted in more than 2,500 hours of extra patrols and a significant reduction in antisocial behaviour.
Operation Enhance sees extra police patrols in areas identified as hotspots for anti-social behaviour and/or serious violence across the county.
The operation has been made possible thanks to £1 million of extra funding secured by Cumbria’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner from the Government’s Hotspot Response Fund to target anti-social behaviour (ASB) and serious violence in hotspot areas across the county.
The operation sees 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.
As of the end of December, the 18 hotspot areas have seen an average reduction in antisocial behaviour of 39.1 per cent.
Chief Superintendent Andy Wilkinson said: “We closely monitor the impact of the high-visibility patrols in the hotspot areas and what we are seeing is a clear reduction in antisocial behaviour.
“Our most recent statistical analysis is showing 16 of the 18 hotspot areas have seen a reduction in incidents of antisocial behaviour, with only one area showing a slight increase.
“This is extremely encouraging and shows, we believe, the positive impact these additional patrols are realising around the county.”
Incidents of serious violence are also down. However, given the low numbers of incidents seen in Cumbria, it is less certain that this reduction can be attributed to the Op Enhance patrols.
Funding for the Operation Enhance additional patrols is secured until the end of March.
Ch Supt Wilkinson said: “Tackling antisocial behaviour is a priority for the Constabulary as well as the public and so, as we approach the final months of the funding of Operation Enhance, we will analyse what has worked and what we can look to continue with once the funding period ends.”
Operation Enhance uses high-visibility patrols to reduce the likelihood of anti-social behaviour and serious violence offences taking place in hotspot areas.
However, officers are encouraged to take action if they suspect criminality in the area they are patrolling.
Over the first six months, Op Enhance patrols have resulted in:
- 48 arrests
- 185 stop searches
- 438 intel submissions from the public
- 46 traffic offence reports
- Six weapons seized
- 14 incidents of ASB powers being used
“The public continually raise with me their desire to see more officers on the beat and Operation Enhance, focusing on our 18 hotspot areas across the county, is prioritising high visibility police patrols.
“Operation Enhance – and the funding being dedicated to it – enables our officers to tackle anti-social behaviour and serious violence more effectively than ever before, by having more officers out on the streets in the areas where we know anti-social behaviour has been a real problem.
“In my career as a Police Officer in Cumbria, I was the village Police Officer for Burgh by Sands so I understand just how important neighbourhood and community policing is and how it is vital to reducing and preventing crimes, as well as building trust with our residents
“I will continue to ensure that this positive work carries on with the Constabulary to ensure that you, the residents of Cumbria, see visible policing in the areas you say you want it and where our intelligence shows it is needed.”