Op Enhance: Anti-social behaviour reduced in hotspot areas

Operation Enhance sees extra police patrols in areas identified as hotspots for anti-social behaviour and/or serious violence across the county.

The operation has been made possible thanks to £1 million of extra funding secured by Cumbria’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner from the Government’s Hotspot Response Fund to target anti-social behaviour (ASB) and serious violence in hotspot areas across the county.

The operation sees extra patrols in 18 areas identified by statistical analysis 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.

To date, anti-social behaviour has reduced by 38.1% per cent in the hotspot areas with serious violence also reduced because of this targeted work when comparing July – November 2024 with the same period in 2023.

As well as providing high-visibility patrols, these officers also proactively respond to criminality and safeguarding issues that arise in their patrol locality.

Action taken by officers on patrol in November included Op Enhance officers coming across a seemingly abandoned vehicle on The Glebe in Bowness.

Officers were able to identify a young man who had been driving the vehicle and he was arrested on suspicion of drug driving.

Officers on patrol in Carlisle broke off from their Enhance patrols to make an arrest following a report of a domestic incident, resulting in an arrest on suspicion of a public order offence.

Officers also reported a number of incidents in November where Enhance patrols assisted door staff at licensed premises as part of efforts to reduce serious violence in town and city centres during the late evenings.

Cumbria’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, David Allen, said: “We are seeing a significant reduction in anti-social behaviour and serious violence across these hotspots.

“These 18 hotspots were identified by looking at data from the past four years and finding out where most of our ASB and serious violence takes place so that we can use the extra £1m to put extra resources where they are needed. This is an incredibly intelligent, evidence led use of precious resources and money to best effect.

“The aim of Operation Enhance is to make our communities safer from ASB and serious violence - I am incredibly pleased to see that it is working.

“We have seen a drop in reports from the public but I do want to encourage everyone – whether they are in a hotspot area or not – to report any suspicious or criminal behaviour to the Police on 101 or 999 in an emergency.

“If you live in one of the Hotspots – which you can find on the Cumbria Police website – and have or haven’t seen a difference, please let me know at commissioner@cumbria-pcc.gov.uk. I am your voice in Policing - I want to hear your views.”

Op Enhance officers made a total of four arrests in November whilst conducting more than 30 stop searches and issuing six traffic offence reports.

The work of police officers was supported by council enforcement officers in November which included the issuing of fixed penalty notices and action taken around abandoned vehicles, as well as a breach of a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO).

T/Chief Superintendent Andy Wilkinson said: “The feedback we are receiving in the hotspot communities is extremely positive, whilst we are also encouraged by the support we are receiving from our council colleagues.

“The approach to Christmas and New Year is one of the busiest times of the year in policing. However, we are committed to maintaining the Operation Enhance patrols throughout this period and into 2025, making communities safer for all.

“We closely monitor the patrols and their impact. What we have noticed in recent months is a reduction in the number of intelligence reports we are receiving from the public. I believe the patrols are contributing positively to this and resulting in fewer reports of antisocial behaviour and violence, however I am also determined to continue encouraging people to report incidents and intelligence to us as reports from the public play an important role in Operation Enhance and influence how we organise patrols and take action in our local communities.”

As part of the operation, the public is encouraged to report antisocial behaviour by visiting the constabulary’s website Report antisocial behaviour | Cumbria Police  or our non-emergency number 101.

In an emergency always call 999. Information and intelligence from the public is vital so we can work together to tackle issues in their communities.

Find out more about Operation Enhance: Op Enhance | Cumbria Police