Week of action highlights the vital work of your neighbourhood officers.

Week of action highlights the vital work of your neighbourhood officers.

Cumbria Polices Neighbourhood Policing Teams work throughout the year to support the communities they serve. 

Throughout the week, beginning 22 January 2024, Cumbria Police will be highlighting some of the work its Neighbourhood Policing Teams do across Cumbria and recognising the efforts put in on a daily basis to help tackle issues that matter to communities most. 

The teams, made up of Inspectors, Sergeants, PCs, Community Beat Officers, PCSOs and volunteers, work with partner agencies and local communities to talk openly about concerns and put actions in place to prevent and reduce crime and anti-social behaviour to ensure residents and businesses receive the best possible local policing service. 

In Eden, the Neighbourhood Policing Team have had a number of results over the past year – tackling a number of issues highlighted by the local community. 

Anti- social behaviour (ASB) has been a priority for the team and is an area the team have been proactively working on and addressing. In October, the team were successful in securing four Anti-Social Behaviour Injunctions (ASBIs) against teenagers who had been identified by police in being involved in a significant number of incidents of crime and disorder in Penrith. The injunctions carry a power of arrest, meaning anyone who receives one can be arrested and presented to the court for immediate outcome should any conditions be broken. 

The team have also worked on Operation Exhale – Eden's partnership response to Youth ASB in the town. Partners from various agencies including Westmorland and Furness Council, local businesses, Penrith Chamber of trade, and the Penrith secondary schools come together on a regular basis to together to discuss how best to tackle youth ASB, look at priority locations and share information to tackle the issues locally. 

Eden Police have said they are committed to partnership working and are continually striving to enhance professional working practices. 

During the week of action, officers and staff from the Neighbourhood Policing Team will be carrying out daily activities to target criminality and engage with local communities. 

The team will be holding drop-ins with PCSO during the week, giving residents a chance to speak to a local officer and raise any concerns directly. Residents can attend Penrith drop-in event at Penrith Leisure Centre – 5-7pm Monday 22nd January 

Local residents have raised concerns around ASB and drugs supply within Eden. As a result, Neighbourhood Policing Team officers will be carrying out proactive patrols in hotspot ASB areas and gathering intelligence on drug supply information received which has been reported to them. 

Inspector Mo Bibby, Eden Neighbourhood Policing Team, said "I took over as Eden Neighbourhood Policing Inspector in October and have witnessed the incredible work our officers do every day here in Eden to keep our communities safe. 

“During the week of action we will continue to provide a visible and accessible policing presence in the area, work with our communities to prevent crime and to solve problems in our neighbourhoods.” 

“Anti-social behaviour continues to be a priority for us and we will be working with partners to tackle these issues. 

“The team will continue to address the issues which matter the most to our residents in 2024 and I’d like to take this opportunity to encourage anyone who has any concerns in relation to crime, disorder, ASB or suspicious activity, to report to police.” 

Cumbria’s Deputy Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, Mike Johnson, said: “Neighbourhood Policing Team’s (NPTs) are incredibly important as they tackle local concerns around crime and ensure that these crimes do not escalate to more serious offences.  

“Weeks of action such as Neighbourhood Policing Week provide us with the opportunity to showcase key examples of what the Police do year-round from tackling crime to educating and engaging with residents. 

“The addition of Community Beat Officers as part of the NPTs across the county over the last year have made a huge difference in communities and we have seen a reduction in anti-social behaviour in areas across Cumbria.  

“Neighbourhood Policing relies on the public to report crime and concerns so I would encourage everyone to report anything illegal or suspicious to 101 or 999 in an emergency. Together we can make Cumbria an even safer place to live.”