Cumbria’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, David Allen, said: “I welcome the decision by both Cumberland Council and Westmorland and Furness Council to give their consent to devolution for Cumbria. This is a positive and important step for our county’s future.
“Devolution brings opportunities to shape Cumbria’s future — not just in terms of economic growth, but in how we build safer, stronger and more resilient communities. Safety and security are the foundations of economic success; it’s difficult to start and sustain growth without them being stable and well supported.
“I can see clear benefits in exploring how police, fire and crime functions could be incorporated into the future Mayoral Combined Authority. Doing so could bring economies of scale, more efficient use of shared infrastructure, and stronger coordination between community safety, resilience and other public services.
“Ultimately, devolution puts power into the hands of Cumbrians and takes away power from Civil Servants in London, we know our area best and have the skills, people and talent to thrive in the future — and that’s something I fully support.”