Ruth had been having problems with her neighbours. She had been verbally abused and her car had been damaged. One day things escalated.

Ruth recalls: “When I got out of the car, my neighbour and her friend were stood outside and they were being verbally abusive.

“My neighbour’s son then came out with a small axe. I was dragged into their kitchen where I was shot in the face with a BB gun.”

Thankfully this resulted only in minor injuries. But the psychological impact lingered.

Superintendent Matt Pearman has seen the effects of violence far too often. “The impact on victims of any type of violent crime is massive,” he says.

“The impact is not just on the victim but the whole family. If there’s children, it has an impact on them.

“I know from talking with victims, it changes the way they lead their lives. Their level of confidence drops. Even going out can become a problem. It’s a really destructive experience.”

Superintendent Pearman is overseeing a Cumbria Police operation against violent crime which is taking place this week.

Extra patrols are being mounted and known criminals targeted.

Cumbria is also taking part in the nationwide knife amnesty Operation Sceptre. Until Sunday, people can anonymously hand in knives at police stations.

In recent weeks the murders of two 17-year-olds, Jodie Chesney in London and Yousef Makki in Greater Manchester, have dragged knife crime back into the spotlight.

The situation in London has been described as an epidemic. Last year 135 people were murdered in the capital, 76 of them stabbed.

Knife crime is increasing around the country, although thankfully it remains rare in Cumbria.

“There’s been a lot of media coverage in the last few weeks about serious knife violence,” says Superintendent Pearman. “We’re fortunate in Cumbria that we don’t see the same levels.

“We haven’t got the same gang problems as some other parts of the country. We don’t seem to have the type of knife-carrying culture of some big cities.

“But we’re not complacent. A lot of work goes on, publicly and behind the scenes.”

Superintendent Pearman stresses that violent crime does not necessarily involve weapons.

Assaults involving fists can also be devastating. A single punch can lead to serious injury or even death.

“We’ve seen that type of assault committed by people who’ve had too much to drink.

“I’ve seen people suffer significant injuries from a punch. It’s ended up with a loss of life - we’ve seen that in Cumbria. It’s just absolutely tragic for the victim and their family. It’s the needlessness of it.”

After Ruth’s ordeal with her neighbours, she was helped by Victim Support: a charity dedicated to supporting victims of crime and traumatic incidents.

Last year it offered help to more than 7,000 people in Cumbria, and gave in-depth support to more than 800 people in the county.

Ruth says: “I was encouraged by the nurse in the hospital to contact Victim Support, and I was supported by a volunteer called Anne.

“Anne was lovely, calm and kind. She kept in touch regularly and always called when she said she would.

“I felt Victim Support was on my side and it made such a difference that someone would listen and not judge. It was a very turbulent time immediately after the incident, and Anne was always so calming and thoughtful.

“Victim Support were always professional, and perhaps did a lot of work I didn’t know about. They did an amazing job.”

Lee Evans is operations manager at Victim Support Cumbria.

He says: “We know from supporting victims of violent crime that these types of attacks can have a serious impact both physically and emotionally.

“Victims can be left traumatised, frightened and anxious from the experience. It can affect their mental health. Their recovery from the physical injuries, which can be life-changing, may have an additional emotional impact.

“There may also be a financial impact if victims are not able to return to work. Some victims may find it difficult to go out and engage in social activities.

“At Victim Support Cumbria we offer tailored practical help and emotional support to victims of all crimes, including violent crime, to help them move beyond what’s happened.

“We can offer support whether or not the incident has been reported to the police.”

When her case was brought to court, Victim Support referred Ruth to the Witness Service, run by the charity Citizens Advice.

The Witness Service supports people who have to attend court to give evidence. These include victims of crime.

Ruth is full of praise for their team, who showed her around the court before she gave evidence there.

Janet Worth is team leader at North and West Cumbria Witness Service.

“The impact of being a victim of violent crime is massive, emotionally and psychologically,” she says.

“It’s devastating for them and their family, and the community. Communities want to feel safe. Any crime has an impact. There’s no such thing as a victimless crime.”

Superintendent Pearman says that Cumbria Police’s attempts to tackle violent crime extend far beyond this week’s public clampdown.

“This isn’t a one-week opportunity. We work all year round. We target offenders with things like Domestic Violence Protection Orders to keep them away from victims.

“Our focus on victims has increased. The Victims’ Code sets out the rights that victims have in relation to the criminal justice system.

“Another approach is to stop violent crime happening in the first place. PCSOs go into schools and educate young people about the danger of carrying knives, and of violence in general.”

Janet Worth says: “Any personal assault, whether verbal or physical, has a particularly serious effect. People can suffer post-traumatic stress. They will need support afterwards.

“The impact doesn’t ever leave you. Every now and then you can have flashbacks. You learn to live with what happened. Time doesn’t heal. It helps you to learn to live with it.”

n Anyone seeking help and information from Victim Support Cumbria can visit www.victimsupport.org.uk or call 0300 3030 157.