Penrith, Carlisle, and Workington have all seen a reduction in anti-social behaviour (ASB) over the last year following prevention and intervention funding from the Home Office’s Safer Streets Fund.
Cumbria received the funding of £820,000 following a successful bid from the Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner in 2023 with match funding from the OPFCC, Cumbria Police, Cumberland Council and Workington Town Council. Work began in November 2023 to tackle ASB on The Line in Workington, Hammond’s Pond in Carlisle and Penrith Town Centre. ASB has reduced by 38.5% in Hammonds Pond, 15.6% in Penrith and 18% in Workington in comparison to the same time period in 2022/23.
The work in Hammond’s Pond in Carlisle aimed to reduce off-road vehicle ASB, youth related ASB and violence against women and girls (VAWG) offences. The funding was used to improve lighting in the park to act as a deterrent and improve feelings of safety with 17 upgraded lights being added. Four CCTV cameras were upgraded in the Hammond’s Pond area and integrated into Cumbria Constabulary’s CCTV system.
ASB and Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) were the key priorities for The Line in Workington. In early 2024, The Line received physical enhancements to the area including the removal of greenery providing users with better sights and reduce hiding places for those looking to commit or have committed an offence, replaced broken paving to improve accessibility. Local schools also designed murals to replace the graffiti and signs were installed with direct links to reporting options to the Council and Police.
The main focus in Penrith is the reduction of ASB and anti-social driving (ASD) in the Town Centre. Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service expanded their Road Awareness Pack to include the development of educational resources using virtual reality technology. Young drivers in ASD hotspot locations around the centre were able to experience danger driving scenarios as a virtual passenger. Over the last year, 32 events and sessions have been delivered to 1,848 people from a variety of groups including Young Farmers, Sixth Form classes, general public in the night-time economy, junior citizens and Cumbria Ride Safe.
Carlisle and Workington benefited from Police Officers receiving drone training to assist with the gathering of evidence around offending. Since the project began in November 2023, eight Officers have received this training.
All three areas targeted areas also benefitted from a new team of youth outreach workers, who were employed to respond to youth ASB providing mediation, restorative justice, safeguarding and intervention to reduce ASB, VAWG offences and to create a more respectful environment to increase feelings of safety for residents. The Youth Outreach workers have supported 1,572 people – helping victims to cope and recover, and positively change offender’s attitudes and behaviour, thereby reducing harm and criminal activity across all three areas.
In the three locations, 59 victims received target hardening, home safety work including improved outdoor lighting and more secure locks on their property to reduce risk of re-victimisation. One-to-one support was provided to 14 victims who received tailored plans to help them cope and recover from the trauma caused by ASB. Three 360-degree CCTV cameras have also been installed and integrated into Cumbria Constabulary’s CCTV system.
Cumbria’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, David Allen, said: “Anti-social behaviour is one of the main concerns that is raised with me as Commissioner time and again and tackling it was one of my key pledges during my election.
“The extra funding from the Home Office to tackle ASB has had an incredibly positive effect on Penrith, Workington and Carlisle and we have seen significant reductions in ASB in these targeted areas.
“Anti-Social Behaviour blights towns and the areas where it takes place. It stops investment into areas, drives shoppers away from town centres and causes untold misery for those suffering it. Tackling, reducing and preventing anti-social behaviour and anti-social driving is a community effort. My Office has worked alongside the Police, Fire and Rescue Service, Cumberland Council, Remedi, The Well Communities and the public to ensure that this project had a significant effect on these communities, and we are definitely seeing the results.
“As your Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner, my role is to be the voice of residents within Cumbria, in respect of the Police and Fire services – I am your voice. If any member of the public has a concern about crime in their area, or around the Constabulary or Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service, 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.