AN INVESTMENT from Government will see a near 45 per cent increase in police on Cumbria's streets, the force has announced, with more officers deployed to areas like Workington, Egremont, Maryport and Barrow.
Cumbria Police will see an increase to its neighbourhood policing team of 26 officers, thanks to the funding allocation from the Home Office, seeing some officers moving from back-office duties to frontline policing.
It means a 44.8 per cent increase in Cumbria's Community Beat Officers, bringing the countywide figure from 58 to 84.
Chief Constable Darren Martland told Newsquest Cumbria on Monday that the officers had been added across Cumbria through the Government's Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee.
Cumbria Police successfully applied for Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee funding from the Home Office in order to make the change, with the support of Cumbria's Police Fire and Crime Commissioner David Allen (PFCC).
Chief Constable Martland said: "As part of the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, across the entirety of Cumbria, we've uplifted by a total of 26 police officers," within that, he said, "16 have been removed from back office functions onto frontline policing and there's an additional 10 police officers as well.
"They're dispersed across the whole of Cumbria."
Cumbria Police moved a proportion of police officers into control rooms about 10 years ago, during a wider effort to reduce costs.
Chief Constable Martland said: "We did that purely as a savings measure so we put police officers into control rooms purely to save at the time in the midst of austerity."
He said the move saved Cumbria Police about £2million at the time but new Home Office funding is supporting the force's current focus on neighbourhood policing.
The means named officers, in the community and on the beat, who work with communities and understand local concerns.
Chief Constable Martland said: "It's part of a Government initiative but since I was appointed as Chief Constable in March this year, I am absolutely dedicated and committed to neighbourhood policing and that's, in simple terms, the whole ethos of bobbies on the beat, it's getting back to basics, it's a named, identified local officer working with communities to tackle issues that affect them the most."
The increase also supports the Neighbourhood Policing Pledge from the PFCC.
Mr Allen's pledge includes strengthening local policing, improving visibility and access, and keeping officers focused on community priorities.
Additional officers will be deployed across communities in Eden, Kendal, Barrow, Carlisle and Wigton, Allerdale and Copeland, supporting both urban and rural areas.
This includes increased officer presence in locations such as Appleby, Alston, Pooley Bridge, Windermere, Coniston, Cartmel, Keswick, Maryport, Workington, Egremont, Cleator Moor and Barrow town centre.
Chief Constable Martland said the successes of this approach could be seen in Maryport, where Community Beat Officer Sam Steele is known to residents and businesses.
The officer maintains links with the community, provides reassurance and receives important intel about crime.
Chief Constable Martland also pointed to results from Operation Enhance, a high-visibility hotspot policing initiative taking place across Cumbria.
He said: "We know it works and the success we've seen so far, Operation Enhance, the town centre here is one of the six of the Enhance areas and in Workington we've seen a 49 per cent reduction in anti-social behaviour, round about a 12 per cent reduction in retail crime so shoplifting, theft that kind of thing and a six per cent reduction in serious crime, so serious assaults.”
Figures relate to reductions recorded in Workington in year three of the Op Enhance high-visibility policing initiative.
Mr Allen said community policing was among the main concerns raised by residents.
He said the investment would put more dedicated officers into local areas to prevent and tackle anti-social behaviour, theft, shoplifting and other issues.
Mr Allen said: "Community Policing is one of the key concerns raised to me by residents – our public want to see more officers on their streets.”
Mr Allen said: "This investment into neighbourhood policing is gets more dedicated, named officers into local communities helping to prevent and tackle anti-social behaviour, theft, shoplifting and other local concerns."
He said he would continue working with the Chief Constable to support the pledge and strengthen the constabulary.
Mr Allen said: "Strong community policing means safer and more welcoming communities – we must work together to ensure our residents and visitors continue to be safe in Cumbria."
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