Community Beat Officers Successfully Tackling ASB in Carlisle
Cumbria’s Deputy Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (DPFCC), Mike Johnson, met with Carlisle’s city west Community Beat Officers (CBO), PC Paddy Browitt and PC Cristian Gonzolez, and PC Rhys Watkin for Carlisle city east, to hear more about the positive work of the CBOs and the Neighbourhood Police Team within the community.
DPFCC Mike Johnson went out on patrol last week with the Community Beat Officers, PC Browitt and PC Gonzalez, to visit the Raffles estate and Heysham Park, that are known hotspots areas for ASB and other low-level crimes.
Since PC Browitt and PC Gonzalez took on the role of Community Beat Officers (CBO) for the Carlisle city west area in summer 2023, and they have been working with the community to combat local crime concerns. As a direct result, Carlisle city west has, a year to date, seen a 3.2% reduction in anti-social behaviour (ASB). Over the last 6 months, they have also been focusing on neighbourhood crime and had some very positive results, such as executing warrants under the misuse of drugs act and the arrest of area targets linked to burglary and acquisitive crime.
The DPFCC is also on patrol with Community Beat Officer PC Rhys Watkin for Carlisle city east today (19 February) to visit Settle Close in New Harraby and the Botcherby area.
Community Beat Officer PC Waktin started with the Neighbourhood Policing Team in August 2023 and along with his colleagues on the city East team, has worked towards tackling ASB across the area. For the year to date, Carlisle city east has experienced a 20% decrease in reported ASB incidents. Recent good results include tackling the anti-social use of off-road motorbikes, working with social landlords on tackling ASB and using housing injunctions to ensure tenants are behaving responsibly.
Speaking on the visit, DPFCC Mike Johnson, said: “One of the key requests we get in the Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner is the desire to see more officers on the streets patrolling. The introduction of CBO’s provides a named Officer for each area of Cumbria, to help with any concerns raised by residents.
“PC Browitt, PC Gonzalez and PC Waktin have been the Community Beat Officer in Carlisle since August and in that time, ASB has dropped by 20% in the east of the city and 3.2% in the west, in comparison to the same period the year before.
“Having dedicated officers deployed from local areas, can only be a good thing. Most of us will not be a victim of a serious crime but many of us will see or feel intimidated by ASB.
“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.”
Carlisle Neighbourhood Policing Team Inspector, Andrew Leather, said: “The introduction of Community Beat Officers in Carlisle has allowed us to have dedicated officers understanding the issues that are occurring in those areas.
“This means, by understanding the issues we have been able to work with partners and take proactive action through targeted activity to disrupt anti-social and criminal behaviour within our communities.
“We know our communities want a more visible police presence and the Community Beat Officers have allowed us to give our communities a familiar face, who’s out in the community engaging with people, businesses and partners.”
