Almost 500 extra hours of street patrols have been undertaken by officers in Cumbria as part of Operation Enhance.

The operation is a crackdown on anti-social behaviour and serious violence across the county, made possible by £1 million of extra funding secured by the Government's Hotspot Response Fund.

Operation Enhance targets areas identified as hotspots for anti-social behaviour and serious violence, with extra police patrols in 18 areas including Carlisle, Barrow, Workington, Whitehaven, Kendal, Penrith, Maryport, Cleator Moor, Ulverston, and Bowness-on-Windermere.

Since the operation started on July 1, 490 hours of additional patrols have been undertaken, including more than 226 hours in August alone.

Over the first two months, 85 stop and searches were conducted, 257 intelligence submissions were made, and anti-social behaviour powers were used on 13 occasions.

Operation Enhance officers also made a total of 22 arrests, 10 of which were in August.

These arrests included an arrest for common assault in Whitehaven town centre, and several arrests of wanted individuals, ranging from a man involved in the supply of Class A drugs to a man wanted on suspicion of theft from a shop.

The operation has coincided with a 36.6 per cent reduction in anti-social behaviour across the hotspot areas, compared to the previous year, as well as a 14.3 per cent reduction in serious violence in the 18 targeted areas.

Cumbria’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, David Allen, said: "One of my key commitments to residents of Cumbria prior to my election in May 2024 was to tackle anti-social behaviour and to get more visible policing on our streets.

"I committed to this and this is what I am now seeing being delivered by your police in your areas.

"I’m pleased to see Cumbria Constabularies continuous dedication to placing extra patrols in these hotspots – that make up for 23.1 per cent of all ASB recorded in Cumbria – to ensure that the streets are safer and more welcoming to residents and visitors."

The increased patrols in the target areas will continue until at least the end of March 2025.

T/Chief Superintendent Andy Wilkinson said: "August was an extremely busy month for the Constabulary with all officers working longer shifts and having rest days cancelled in order to keep people in Cumbria safe during a period of national disorder.

"Despite this, I am pleased to see that we have once again recorded well over 200 hours of extra, dedicated patrols over the past month, focused on anti-social behaviour and serious violence.

"The feedback we have received from the public to the high-visibility patrols in these hotspot areas has been extremely positive and encouraging."

The public is encouraged to report anti-social behaviour by visiting the constabulary’s website or by calling the non-emergency number 101.

In an emergency, always call 999.

Mr Allen said: "I made a promise prior to being elected and by providing more visible policing in the areas that need it, I am delivering on that promise with your local police.

"As your Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner, my role is to be the voice of residents within Cumbria, in respect of the Police – I am your voice.

"If you live in one of these hotspots – or anywhere in the county – and have a concern about local crime, or around the Constabulary, please raise it with me at commissioner@cumbria-pcc.gov.uk or call 01768 217734."