OFFICERS in Cumbria are highlighting their work as part of anti-social behaviour (ASB) awareness week.

Neighbourhood policing teams work closely with partners and communities daily to tackle anti-social behaviour, which has been reduced in Cumbria by 28.2 per cent when comparing April 2022 to March 2023 to the previous financial year, dropping from 6,858 to 4,922. 

Across this week officers in Barrow have been highlighting the work they do all year round to tackle antisocial behaviour within the community.

Work includes visiting local schools to educate youngsters on hate crime and its effects on the community, supporting victims of ASB and patrolling hotspot areas around town.

Chief Superintendent Lisa Hogan, the force’s neighbourhood policing lead, said: "This week provides us with a great opportunity to highlight the work our local policing teams and partner agencies do, every day to tackle anti-social behaviour. 

"As well as responding and investigating anti-social behaviour, a great deal of work is carried out by our local policing teams to prevent incidents occurring. 

"To support and build upon this work, we have been introducing Community Beat Officers to areas of Cumbria which sees a dedicated officer deployed to the area.  

"However, key to us being able to provide an effective policing response is the information and support provided by local people."

Cumbria’s Police and Fire Crime Commissioner, Peter McCall, said: "We welcome the national ASB awareness week and are asking people for their support in tackling ASB, helping to keep everyone safe. To be able to fully understand the impact that ASB is having on communities in Cumbria, we need people to report incidents.

"As summer approaches, we often see spikes in levels of ASB and it’s vital that our communities work together and play their part. There are a number of different agencies involved in tackling ASB, including the police, local authority and housing associations and not least parents who remain responsible for their children. However, these agencies can only act if people report a problem.

"Becoming a victim of ASB can be an extremely distressing and upsetting experience. It includes a range of behaviours that can cause nuisance, annoyance, harm or distress to a person, with examples including vehicle abandonment, trespassing, vandalism, harassment and anti-social drinking. If left unchecked, it can ruin people's lives and devastate communities.

"I urge people to come forwards and report. Support is out there and you will be listened to. Do not suffer in silence." 

You can report incidents of anti-social behaviour online at www.cumbria.police.uk/report-it. You can also call police on 101. If it is an emergency, always dial 999.