Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (Commissioner), David Allen, joined Police Officers on an Operation Enhance patrol. The Commissioner joined PC Stefan Blaga, PC Dan Evans, PC Ellen Hindmarch and PC Sam Ellis in Kendal and Bowness-on-Windermere.
Operation Enhance was funded through a successful bid from the Commissioner’s office which realised £1million from the Government’s Hotspot Response Fund. This money is to be used to target anti-social behaviour (ASB) and serious violence in hotspot areas across the county. In July 2024, 18 hotspots across the county were identified and extra patrols began to target and reduce ASB and serious violence in these areas.
Since patrols began in the Kendal and Eden hotspots, between 1 July 2024 and 28 February 2025, ASB has reduced by 35.5%, falling from 89 reports of ASB to 49 compared to the same period the previous year. Serious violence has decreased from five reports down to two (60% reduction).
Operation Enhance has had a wider effect on crime rates with burglary reports dropping from 17 to 12 (29.4% reduction), possession of weapon offences dropping from 14 to six (57.1% reduction) and sexual offences decreasing from 26 to 20 (23.1% reduction).
Commissioner David Allen said: “Operation Enhance is all about getting Officers out in our hotspot areas to deter ASB and serious violence and the results really speak for themselves.
“This is the visible policing that I promised, and it is what is being delivered. The results of that visibility and the increased patrols speak for themselves.
“The 18 hotspot areas in Cumbria covered only 0.04% of our county but accounted for 23.1% of all ASB. In the Kendal and Eden hotspots anti-social behaviour has reduced by 35.5% and we are seeing similar results in all hotspot areas.
“This is an incredible result and something I, as Commissioner, am keen that we continue.
“Police visibility remains one of my key priorities and this extra funding has allowed me, and the Chief Constable, to put more patrols in place to make residents not only feel safer but actually be safer. The results shown above demonstrate that.
Going out with the Officers in Kendal and Bowness-on-Windermere highlighted the positive impact the patrols are having in the towns, and I hope that residents, business owners and their staff are seeing the difference in their local areas.
“However, if you are not seeing the results in one of our hotspots, please do report any instances of anti-social behaviour, it is only through intelligence that the Constabulary can identify where to best target their extra high visibility patrols.
“I also would like you to tell me your views on this high visibility activity. is there more that you think should be done or could be done? Are there areas that the Constabulary should be targeting? I am your Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner, my role is to be the voice of residents within Cumbria, in respect of the Police – I am your voice. If you have any concerns about crime in your area – hotspot or not -, or around the Constabulary please raise it with me at commissioner@cumbria-pcc.gov.uk or call 01768 217734.”
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.