Cumbria’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (Commissioner), David Allen, received an update on end of year performance from the Constabulary at his Public Accountability Conference (PAC) on Friday 20 June 2025.
Between April 2024 and March 2025, crime increased by 4.3% with an additional 1,522 crimes recorded compared to the same time period last year. However, anti-social behaviour (ASB), decreased by 21.4% across the county – 985 less ASB reports compared to the same period last year.
Positive outcome rates increased to 20.9% compared to 19.4% in 2023/24. A positive outcome refers to when a criminal has been correctly identified and has faced the appropriate sanction or takes part in a restorative justice programme, if applicable.
Neighbourhood crime - vehicle offences, theft, burglary and robbery – decreased by 14%, a drop from 2,306 recorded crimes to 1,972. Drug offences increased by 20.2% in 24/25 compared to the previous year. However, positive outcomes reached 78.7%. Sexual offences have increased by 14.9%, rising to 1,821 reports in 24/25 compared to 1,585 reports in 23/24. Cumbria Constabulary recorded one extra possession of weapons offences taking the total to 538. Cumbria roads have seen a reduction in the number of killed or seriously injured collisions by 7.8% from 268 collisions to 247. There was one less fatal and 20 fewer serious injury collisions between April 2024 and March 2025. Shoplifting offences have increased by 8.3% compared to the same period last year – the positive outcome rate for shoplifting is 38.4%. Violence against the person offences increased to 8% - most of this increase came from stalking and harassment reports and violence without injury reports, which saw an 11.5% and 10.9% increase respectively.
Arson and criminal damage have also decreased in this period by 11.3% in comparison to last year. Domestic abuse between April 2024 – March 2025 increased by 2.9% compared to the same time period last year with a positive outcome rate of 15.2%, an increase of 2.3%. In 2024/25, the Constabulary recorded 786 hate crimes, increasing 18.7% from the previous year, an increase of 124 crimes recorded. Of these crimes, 65.3% recorded were race-related in the financial year, increasing 40.5% from the previous year. Religion related hate crimes also saw an increase of 26 offences and transphobic, homophobic and disability motivated hate crimes saw a decrease of 30.1% from the previous financial year. Cumbria also saw an increase of cybercrime by 35% rising from 2,208 reports in 23/24 to 2,979 in 24/25.
The Commissioner also received an update on Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO) in Cumbria. Between April 2024 and March 2025, Cumbria Constabulary recorded 1,821 RASSO offences, an increase of 14.9% compared to the previous year. There were 481 rape offences recorded – a reduction of 9.4% (49 less offences). Domestic abuse related rape offences increased by 10.2% rising from 177 to 195 reports. The positive outcomes rates sits at 11.2% and increase from the previous year and a higher average compared to national figures.
Cumbria’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, David Allen, said: “Public Accountability Conferences provide me with the opportunity to speak to my Chief Constable and find out how they are tackling crime in Cumbria.
“I welcome the drop in ASB – my Office successfully bid for £1million from the Home Office to target the hotspot ASB and serious violence areas which we called Operation Enhance. Eighteen hotspots were identified and we put extra patrols in place – this has been a really successful project and we can see this by the figures.
“Of course, a rise in crime may seem negative but this means that the public have the confidence to report and that our Officers will take reports seriously. We are continuously encouraging reporting, so I see this rise as a positive – it means that public trust in policing is growing.
“A rise in stalking and harassment is, of course, cause for concern – but again, I do believe it’s because of the increased awareness of what stalking is. We’ve seen a national increase around stalking and with incredibly popular tv shows such a ‘Baby Reindeer’ on Netflix, people are becoming more aware of what stalking looks like and Police are becoming more aware of the impact of stalking on victims – it is not a harmless act. I would urge anyone who believes that they are being stalked to continue to come forward by contacting the Police on 101 or 999 in an emergency– every report helps Police build evidence which is vital in investigations.
“Shoplifting has been a national priority this year and we are seeing the effects on reporting. I’m pleased to see police and public taking this more seriously and reporting it – I want to see shoplifting reduced so I will continue to hold the Constabulary to this.
“We have seen a growing level of hate crime, both locally and nationally. It’s absolutely abhorrent and it does not represent the Cumbrian public. Everyone is welcome in Cumbria and should be able to work, live and visit the county without fear of being targeted for their race, gender, sexuality or religion. I commission Remedi to provide Step Up: Beat Hate in schools in the county and I will continue to receive updates on how the Constabulary are tackling Hate Crime. My aim is to see this reduce in the county.
“I want to assure the public that Cumbria is one of the safest counties in England and Wales. However, this does not mean that we are complacent. I will continue to work with the Chief Constable and hold the Constabulary to account at my PAC meetings to see crime reduce so that everyone in Cumbria feels safer on their streets.
“As Commissioner, I am your voice in Policing. If you have any concerns or believe you have not received a good response from Police around any report that you have made for any crime type, please contact me at commissioner@cumbria-pcc.gov.uk or at 01768 217734. I am your voice – use me!”
Chief Constable (Temporary) Darren Martland said: “It’s always pleasing to see the hard work and dedication of our officers and staff producing tangible results such as the reductions seen today in a range of different types of crime.
“The results show significant drops in reports of anti-social behaviour and offences classed as neighbourhood crime, which covers crimes such as vehicle offences, theft, burglary and robbery. These are the offences taking place on people’s streets that can really impact on people’s lives.
“There are some rises in certain crimes, but we believe a number are down to increased confidence in the community to report these issues to us; while a rise in drugs offences, for instance, shows we are catching more drug dealers and offenders.
“What was particularly pleasing about the recent Crime Survey for England and Wales was that most people taking part agreed we understand their concerns and are proactively tackling anti-social behaviour and crime.
“I’d like to thank our officers and staff for their dedication, professionalism as they keep people safe and tackle the issues that matter to you in your communities.
“I’d also like to thank the public for continuing to supply us with the support and information we need to tackle and deter crime in all our neighbourhoods.”
If you would like to read the full PAC reports, visit the Cumbria PFCC website.
If you wish to report to police you can do so online at Report a crime | Cumbria Police. You can also phone on 101. Always phone 999 in an emergency or if a crime is in progress.