Police chiefs have been warned Cumbria must not develop "no-go zones" where people fear to tread due to troublemakers.

The county's crime commissioner, Peter McCall, vowed this scenario was "unacceptable", saying anti-social yobs might then turn to more serious crime.

The number of incidents of anti-social behaviour has fallen by nearly three per cent in Cumbria in the year up to August - down to 11,977 reports.

Mr McCall welcomed the drop but added he was told by some people they did not bother reporting problems.

He urged anyone with any information to come forward as he addressed the subject at one of his regular public accountability conferences, featuring senior officers.

Mr McCall said: "You've heard the phrase: no-go zone.

"That is totally unacceptable. We are not having that.

"If they think they are getting away with it, they could get into more serious crime."

Mr McCall earlier heard a presentation by Superintendent Justin Bibby on anti-social behaviour.

The officer said national inspectors had told the force it was good at tackling this type of problem.

"We have a good understanding of it and a good understanding of the threat in our communities," he said.

Carlisle city centre had suffered problems but was now seeing "the lowest level of youth anti-social behaviour it's ever seen", he added.

Supt Bibby said: "We've developed over the last few years a real degree of sophistication of how we go about it."

The development of problem-solving squads, identifying seasonal demands and investment in activities for teenagers have played their part.

Mr McCall said he was approached by people with problems, adding: "When I say, 'have you reported it?' They say, 'there's no point, you won't do anything about it.'"

On the figures reporting a drop in problems, he said: "Is it really (down) or are we losing the confidence of the public to report it?"

Supt Bibby said the force did not just rely on calls for service and gathered information in other ways.

Mr McCall stressed officers needed to keep the public on board.

He added: "I'm concerned about when people say to me, 'I'm not bothering to report it'.

"If we lose the public confidence in that, then we lose it for far more serious things."

The meeting was held at the force's Carleton Hall headquarters, near Penrith.

Wigton has been among the towns to receive extra attention from the force after problems with teenage tearaways.

Officers wearing body cameras have been deployed in recent months to capture the behaviour of the culprits.

Dispersal orders have also been issued to move youths on.

Reported problems included teenagers hurling missiles at cars and climbing across roofs.