Five anti-social behaviour (ASB) hotspots in Allerdale and Copeland have seen a reduction in ASB by 5.6% following extra police patrols in the areas as part of Operation Enhance.
The operation aims to tackle anti-social behaviour in hotspot areas across the county by placing extra patrols in 15 hotspot areas. David Allen, Cumbria’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner secured £1 million of extra funding from the Government’s Hotspot Response Fund to fund Operation Enhance.
Cumbria Constabulary examined data to identify the ASB hotspots across the county. Whitehaven, Workington, Cleator Moor and Maryport were identified in 2024, and Flatt Walks in Whitehaven was recently identified as a priority hotspot area in 2025. Between 1 August 2025 and 31 January 2026, there have been 6 less reports of anti-social behaviour on these streets dropping from 108 reports to 102.
The extra patrols are also having a positive effect on other crime types. Across the 15 hotspots, shoplifting has reduced by 12.8%. In the Copeland and Allerdale hotspots, this has fallen by 19.7% with 28 less reports of shoplifting compared to the same period in 2024/25.
Cumbria’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, David Allen, said: “Operation Enhance continues to have a positive impact on communities across the county.
“A reduction of 5.6% on ASB across five hotspots in Allerdale and Copeland shows that we are continuing to improve and that our hotspots are becoming safer and more welcoming for everyone.
“Visible policing is also having a knock-on effect on other areas of crime and we’ve seen this in the shoplifting data. Shoplifting in the Allerdale and Copeland hotspots have reduced by 19.2% - that’s a really positive drop. Of course, we need reporting to continue to ensure that we can continue to tackle it.
“I’d urge the public to continue to report anti-social behaviour and crime to the Police on 101, or 999 in an emergency. Each report helps Police build evidence and ensures the appropriate resources are placed in the right areas. If you have anti-social behaviour happening in your area, report it. It is only by such reporting that the police know about it and can take action.
“If you feel that you have reported to the Police and haven’t seen a change, please contact me at commissioner@cumbria-pcc.gov.uk or at 01768 217734. I am the residents’ voice – your voice – in Policing, so please let me help.”
Chief Superintendent Andy Wilkinson, Cumbria Constabulary, said: “It’s encouraging to see that Operation Enhance continues to contribute to the reduction of anti-social behaviour and other offences in Copeland and Allerdale.
“Anti-social behaviour is an important issue to our communities, and a visible policing presence disrupts this behaviour from happening whilst allowing officers to respond quickly to reports alongside our response and neighbourhood policing colleagues.
“In recent weeks we have seen incidents reported in Allerdale and Copeland and our neighbourhood policing teams are working with our partners and the community to address these issues.
“Following incidents in Cleator Moor and Frizington, neighbourhood policing officers identified those responsible. They address this with community resolution and with support from parents, they were invited to the station to discuss the impact of their behaviour on the community and victims. Those involved engaged well and showed genuine remorse.”
“We encourage our communities to continue their support by reporting incidents of anti-social behaviour or other offences to us.”
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.
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