ASB drops in Penrith thanks to Community Beat Officer

Since PC Stewart Green took on the role of Community Beat Officer (CBO) for Penrith Town Centre in July 2023, nuisance anti-social behaviour (ASB) has dropped by 15.7% in comparison to the same period as the previous year.

ASB is disruptive behaviour in community settings that causes intimidation and fear in residents. It includes a range of behaviours that can cause nuisance, annoyance, harm or distress to a person, with examples including vehicle abandonment, trespassing, vandalism, harassment and anti-social drinking.

Deputy Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (DPFCC) Mike Johnson went out on patrol with PC Green, who has been the Problem Solver for Eden since 2019, to hear more about his work in the community and see where the reported ASB has taken place.

Speaking on the visit, DPFCC Mike Johnson, said: “Cumbria is one of the safest counties in the country and I am determined to see it remain as such.

“The public continuously raise their desire to see more officers on our streets, which I fully understand. The introduction as CBO’s provides a dedicated, named Officer for an area to help with any concerns raised by residents.

“PC Green has been the Community Beat Officer in Penrith since July 2023 and in that time he has already made a big difference in tackling anti-social behaviour.

“Having dedicated officers deployed from local areas, can only be a good thing. Becoming a victim of ASB can be an extremely distressing and upsetting experience. If left unchecked, it can ruin people’s lives and devastate communities.

“This is why it is vital, that our Community Beat Officers establish relationships, build trust with local residents and the wider community, so that we can all help in fighting crime together and keeping our communities free of crime.

“Anti-social behaviour is unacceptable, and the Police take all reports seriously. If you ever experience or witness ASB, please report online via www.cumbria.police.uk or call 999 in an emergency.”

Inspector Mo Bibby, Eden Neighborhood Policing Team, said: “Anti-social behavior can have a significant impact on individuals and communities in Penrith, which is why it is our priority all year round.

“Community Beat Officers, like PC Green, are dedicated, locally based officers who are focused on understanding and tackling local issues to reduce crime, including ASB.

“We know having that visible presence in the town is key to reducing the number of ASB incidents and continue to add hotspot areas into patrol plans.

“I would like to encourage anyone to report any incidents to us so that action can be taken.”