Neighbourhood policing teams (NPTs) across the county have highlighted the measures they take to tackle anti-social behaviour (ASB) year round.

This follows a week-long initiative from November 18 to 24 aimed at raising awareness of ASB and its implications for communities.

Officers, in collaboration with various partner agencies, targeted local issues and engaged with residents during the dedicated week of action.

According to Cumbria Constabulary, ASB is a priority and as such, Operation Enhance, which sees extra patrols in areas identified as hotspots for ASB, continues.

The operation sees extra patrols in 18 areas identified as the county's hotspot areas of anti-social behaviour and serious violence.

These areas include areas of Carlisle, Barrow, Workington, Whitehaven, Kendal, Penrith, Maryport, Cleator Moor, Ulverston and Bowness-on-Windermere.

As a result of work carried out by local officers and the high visibility patrols from Operation Enhance, Cumbria has seen a reduction in ASB of 17.2 per cent from April 2023 to April 2024.

In Carlisle, high visibility patrols were carried out in regular patrol routes to show a visible presence, make communities feel safer and reduce ASB incidents.

PCSOs also engaged with the local schools together with Riverside officers, to deliver ASB awareness talks to young people.

Alongside the work carried out during the week of action, the NPT work with partner agencies to tackle and reduce ASB in areas where it is prevalent such as Raffles and Morton, in Carlisle, and Solway, Dalston, Caldbeck and Wigton.

In the Eden area morning hotspot patrols were carried out in and around New Squares in Penrith.

Chief Superintendent Andy Wilkinson, the force’s neighbourhood policing lead, said: "The week of action was an opportunity for our teams to highlight the work they do every day to tackle anti-social behaviour.

"As well as responding to incidents of ASB, a great deal of work is carried out behind the scenes to prevent further incidents occurring.

"To enable us to provide an effective policing response to ASB incidents, we need the public to tell us about incidents that are happening in your local area.

By reporting incidents to us this allows us to create a greater intelligence picture and, more importantly, allows to take appropriate action to investigate and deter further incidents.

"We know how much ASB can disrupt and cause misery to the lives of residents in our county, and I would encourage anyone with any issues to make a report or speak to a member of your local policing team."

Cumbria’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, David Allen, said: "Anti-social behaviour is the crime-type that is most likely to affect the majority of us.

"It can cause intimidation and fear in residents and have negative consequences on a community, it can drive business away from our town centres and has an insidious effect on our neighbourhoods.

"As Commissioner, I have pledged to tackle ASB and increase visible Policing.

"Extra funding such as Operation Enhance and Safer Streets that my Office has brought into the county have helped reduce ASB in our hotspots areas but I am dedicated to ensuring that all of our communities feel safer for everyone.

"This week of action provides a really positive snapshot of the work that takes place all year to protect you and to keep you safe.

“If you are experiencing ASB, please report it to the Police.

"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 ASB or 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."

ABS incidents can also be reported online at cumbria.police.uk/report-it