It's been a year of terrorism, cyber attacks and high profile sex assault cases nationally.

But crime concerns among Cumbrians appear to sit closer to home - with speeding cars, dangerous drivers and burglars ranking as the top three worries.

Drug dealing, vandalism and the protection of vulnerable people were the worries following closest behind in a survey carried out for the county force.

Among the issues a lot further down the rankings were modern slavery, terrorism and child sexual abuse.

These last three are all key priorities for policing in 2017 - a point made at a meeting of county crimefighting's top brass.

Cumbria's crime commissioner suggested because people were not openly exposed to these threats they did not perceive them as such a problem.

Senior officers also pointed out how people were unaware of some of the major issues affecting even a mainly rural patch like Cumbria.

Assistant Chief Constable Mark Webster said: "Criminal damage is of more concern than children being abused.
Mark Webster, assistant chief constable

"That is the public perception."

People taking part in the survey were asked to think about where they live and list their top five concerns.

They were given the choice of a series of 25 crime types or potential threats.

Speeding vehicles were listed by 51 per cent of people; dangerous driving got a tick from 37 per cent; and "your home being broken into" was a concern to 36 per cent.

At the bottom "your business being broken into" was a worry for more than four per cent, modern slavery and human trafficking was listed by two per cent and illegal surveillance was a concern for just one per cent.

In the middle were issues such as robbery, disorder involving mobs of people - and dangerous offenders.

Mr Webster talked about the key worries, stating: "It's speeding vehicles and dangerous driving, homes being broken into, drug dealing, criminal damage.

"On the other side you have child sex abuse, people trafficking. They are really low."


Crime Commissioner for Cumbria, Peter McCall Peter McCall, crime commissioner, said: "Because they are not exposed to it they don't recognise it is happening and it's not on their radar."

Superintendent Rob O'Connor, south Cumbria's most senior officer, said he had hosted community groups in Barrow at the town's station.

He told the meeting he had mentioned issues such as teenage drug mules being used to bring substances into the county.

Supt O'Connor said he was asked: "That happens in Cumbria?"

In the survey, more than half of those taking part said they were not aware of efforts made to tackle cyber crime, modern slavery, human trafficking and child sexual exploitation.

This was only slightly better for drugs trafficking, where just under half were not aware of what police were doing.

The force has in recent months revamped neighbourhood policing.

Responsibilities have been redrawn, with Carlisle, Eden, Allerdale, Copeland, Barrow and the South Lakes patches having their own leader.

Mr McCall added: "I do think our refocusing on neighbourhood police teams helps to make it clear we are addressing these issues."

Martin Plummer is the chairman of Cumbria Police Federation - the organisation representing rank-and-file officers.
Martin Plummer from the Police Federation

Speaking after the meeting, he said in one respect the fact people were more concerned about so-called less serious crimes could be seen as a mark of success.

"We are so good at the work we are doing on serious crime that the only things that concern them are more minor areas of public order and public concern," he said.

But he added there was frustration from officers - due to reduction in numbers - that they were unable to "interact with their community", thereby looking more at neighbourhood issues.

"That is purely and simply down to the number of officers, the number of staff and the lack of resources as a result of funding," said Mr Plummer.

Those concerns - in descending order (percentage is amount of people who felt this was a top five concern)

  • Speeding vehicles - 51 per cent
  • Dangerous driving - 37 per cent
  • Your home broken into - 36 per cent
  • Drug dealing - 34 per cent
  • Criminal damage - 33 per cent
  • Protecting vulnerable people - 27 per cent
  • Violent crime - 25 per cent
  • Car crime - 25 per cent
  • Drunken rowdy behaviour - 24 per cent
  • Rural crime - 23 per cent
  • Robbery - 21 per cent
  • Disorder involving groups of people - 21 per cent
  • Dangerous offenders - 18 per cent
  • Online fraud - 16 per cent
  • Domestic violence - 16 per cent
  • Child sexual abuse - 15 per cent
  • Drug trafficking - 10 per cent
  • Hate crime - nine per cent
  • Harrassment - eight per cent
  • Terrorism - seven per cent
  • Selling or giving alcohol to underage people - four per cent
  • Other - four per cent
  • Your business being broken into - four per cent
  • Modern slavery and human trafficking - two per cent
  • Surveillance - one per cent

Some other survey findings

  • Four out of five people said the police had their support and respect
  • More than 96 per cent of people felt safe in their own home during the day - and 91 per cent did so at night.
  • Ninety three per cent felt safe out and about in their neighbourhood during the day, while 74 per cent did at night.
  • More than three quarters of people said they felt confident they could access police services in an emergency - higher than the national average of 72 per cent.
  • But only 57 per cent of people said they felt confident they could access police services in a non-emergency.

There are currently plans in Cumbria to upgrade the delay-hit 101 system.

This non-emergency number has been hit by complaints about people facing long waiting times.

Mr Webster said on this figure: "The problem we have is 101."

Mr McCall said the 101 service had got much better recently.

He added: "I don't expect we will see the public instantly acknowledging that because there is a certain amount of legacy."

On the safety figures, Mr Webster said: "Feelings of safety are generally high.

"People in Cumbria feel safe."

How the survey was compiled

More than 1,540 people took part.

Feedback was said to be fairly evenly distributed across north, south and west Cumbria.

Slightly more women (56 per cent) responded than men (44 per cent).

A higher proportion of older people responded to the survey, with the majority aged between 45 and 74.

Nearly all those responding were classed as white British.

The majority of respondents said they were heterosexual - 92 per cent.

Three quarters of those taking part said they lived with other people.

More than 60 per cent said they lived in a city or town.

Over 80 per cent said they owned their property outright, or with a mortgage.

Nearly a quarter considered themselves to have some form of disability or substantial medical condition, the majority stating it was physical.

The neighbourhood policing revamp - how police say they are responding to community concerns

In September the force redrafted its organisation of neighbourhood policing.

This provided area inspectors that chiefs say will bring the force closer to the community.

Responsibilities were redrawn, with Carlisle, Eden, Allerdale, Copeland, Barrow and the South Lakes patches having their own leader.

Previously inspectors had responsibility for a wider area geographically, as well as for the patrol side of policing.

They covered areas designated as north, west and south Cumbria.

The force says the dedicated neighbourhood inspectors will allow officers to focus more on community issues and problems.

There has previously been criticism that neighbourhood policing might suffer in the wake of budget cuts.