Neighbourhood Teams across the county have reduced crime and anti-social behaviour across the county this year.
Cumbria’s six Neighbourhood Policing Teams have achieved impressive results over the past year, with neighbourhood crime down 12.2% and anti-social behaviour (ASB) incidents reduced by 30.5%.
This has been supplemented by the work of Operation Enhance- the force’s ongoing ASB hotspot operation.
Crimes such as burglary, robbery and vehicle offences have also reduced.
Teams are not only reducing crime but also taking a proactive approach by exercising their powers, conducting 1,219 stop searches, with 18.1% yielding positive results.
Teams have paired this work with multiple operations, working with various departments across the force. Some of these operations include:
Three-month long Operation Colossus which targeted road safety and saw more than 1,500 vehicles stopped across the county
Operation Alliance including Operation Apache in Penrith, Operation Abindgdon in Barrow, Operation Bologna in West Cumbria and Operation Huelva in Carlisle. All operations targeted drug supply and resulted in four days of action, 26 arrests and 18 warrants conducted
Operations Denote, in the north of the county and Leopard, in the south, targeting the illegal use of electric bikes and off-road motorbikes.
Cumbria has also recruited an additional 10 officers into Neighbourhood Teams since March 2025, with plans underway for more by March 2026.
Chief Superintendent Andy Wilkinson, Cumbria’s Neighbourhood Policing Lead said: “These results show the dedication of our teams and the strength of our partnership with local communities. We’re committed to keeping Cumbria safe, especially as we head into the festive season.
“Cumbria Police will continue working closely with communities to build on these successes in 2026.
“I encourage residents to stay vigilant and report any concerns.”
As part of our commitment to public safety, officers were also out in force during one of the busiest weekends of the festive season in key nightlife areas, offering reassurance, preventing disorder, and supporting local residents.
Officers carried out high-visibility patrols, focussing on protecting party-goers, providing immediate support where needed, and helping reduce pressure on emergency services.
This approach will continue into the New Year, ensuring residents and visitors feel safe during busy periods.
Ch Supt Wilkinson continued: “We want people to have fun this Christmas and enjoy their nights out safely and hope that our presence in these areas and proactive work will assist those who need us on a night out, as well as acting as a deterrent to anyone thinking about committing any kind of crime.
“Please enjoy yourself and have fun on your nights out. If you do find yourself in difficulty, remember we have officers and staff on hand to provide assistance.”
Cumbria’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, David Allen, said: “Neighbourhood Policing Teams (NPTs) are in the heart of communities, tackling the crimes that most affect our residents.
“I’ve been out several times with NPTs over the last year, and I’m always impressed with the work they do in their patches and how they interact with residents.
“Anti-social behaviour is one of the biggest concerns the public raise with me as Commissioner so seeing this reduce by almost a third is a huge feat and I know that Police will continue to tackle this in 2026.
“Resident’s safety is a main priority for me and Cumbria Police and I hope everyone has noticed a difference in their community.
“Earlier in the year, the Government launched the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee to improve local policing.
“This means that the Constabulary will see an additional 26 named Community Beat Officers (CBO) being placed across the county before the end of March 2026 – raising the number of CBOs from 58 to 84. Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) numbers have also been increased by 16.
“The Control Room where 999 and 101 calls are received will also see a change, with 14 police staff replacing the Police Officers currently in these roles, allowing Officers to get back on the streets responding to crime.
“As we head closer to Christmas, Officers will be continuing to hit the streets to keep you safe. If you do see something criminal or suspicious, don’t just comment about it on social media, please report it to the Police on 101 or 999 in an emergency and stay safe this Christmas.”
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