Extra police patrols are being mounted and known criminals targeted in an operation against violent crime.

An intensified clampdown will start today with police chiefs saying they want to deal “robustly” with those responsible for some of the county’s most dangerous crimes.

The action comes as concerns intensify about violence on the streets, with particular concerns surrounding knives.

And while Cumbria police stress that the county remains one of the country’s safest places to be, officers say they are all to aware of the devastating impact of violence.

Superintendent Matt Pearman said: “Violent crime is an area of policing that has seen significant media coverage over recent weeks.

“While, fortunately, Cumbria has not seen the levels of serious violence that have been reported elsewhere in the country, we are not complacent and continue to take violent crime extremely seriously.

“This is not solely about responding effectively to incidents of violence but about actively targeting those in our communities who commit violent offences, carry weapons or who are perpetrators of domestic abuse.

“It’s also really important that police officers are out-and-about, where they are able to talk to members of the public so that we can keep community intelligence flowing.

“This is critical to taking violent offenders off the streets.

“People should know that violent actions have consequences for other people – and for themselves, with the prospect of a court appearance and even prison awaiting them.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Peter McCall supports the work.

He said: “The whole country will have been shocked by the appalling and tragic deaths of young people in other parts of the country as a result of violent knife crime.

“It is important that we do not respond irrationally to these tragedies, but equally we must do all we can to prevent this sort of crime in Cumbria.

“As a society I believe we must be united in making it clear that violent crime is unacceptable, there are no excuses for carrying weapons, our communities should not live in fear and it will not be tolerated.

“Police in Cumbria have my full support to continue to deal robustly with those who engage in violent crime.”