Three towns in Cumbria to benefit from ASB prevention funding
Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC), Peter McCall, has secured £465,000 from the Home Office Safer Streets Fund 5 for initiatives to tackle anti-social behaviour in three towns in Cumbria. This has been match funded by the PFCC, Cumbria Constabulary and Cumberland Council with an additional amount of £737,522.98 to assist the project over the next two years.
Hammond’s Pond in Carlisle will benefit from £146,515.75 of funding to reduce off-road vehicle ASB, youth related ASB and violence against women and girls (VAWG) offences. The funding will be used to improve lighting in the park to act as a deterrent on offences and improve feelings of safety. Four local Neighbourhood Policing Officers (NPT) will also receive drone training to assist with the gathering of evidence around offending.
The Line in Workington will receive £127,671.25 to reduce ASB and VAWG offences in the area. The funding will provide physical enhancements to the area including the removal of greenery to provide users with better sights and reduce hiding places for those looking to commit or have committed an offence, replace broken paving to improve accessibility, schools will design murals to replace the current graffiti and provide signage with direct links to reporting options to the Council and Police. Workington NPT will also receive drone training, similar to Carlisle.
In Penrith, the reduction of ASB and anti-social driving (ASD) in the Town Centre will be the focus of the funding, receiving £190,813. Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service will expand their current Road Awareness Pack including the development of educational resources using virtual reality technology. This will allow young people to experience a variety of driving scenarios and outcomes in a fully immersive manner including drink/drug and risky driving. This enhanced education can be delivered in ASD hotspot locations to encourage drivers to take responsibility for their actions.
All three areas will benefit from a team of youth outreach workers will be employed to respond to youth ASB providing mediation, restorative justice, safeguarding and intervention to reduce ASB, VAWG offences and create a more respectful environment in these areas to reduce feelings of unsafety for residents.
Speaking on the funding, PFCC Peter McCall, said: “This funding will make a real difference to communities in Cumbria by reducing ASB but also providing a safe environment and security for those who just want to use their local amenities in a safe and respectful way.
“I am committed to working with partners to create a county that is and feels safe for all, which is why this funding mainly focuses on reducing ASB and VAWG offences in hot-spot areas as well as providing preventative initiatives to stop incidents happening in the first place. I would also want those who commit ASB to understand that these measures will also help us to bring them to justice and to deal with them accordingly.
“I am pleased to be working alongside partners such as Cumbria Police, Cumbria Fire and Rescue and Cumberland Council to deliver these projects and I am certain that residents will see the benefits.
“Together we can make Cumbria an even safer place to live, work and visit.”
Chief Superintendent Richard Quinn, Cumbria Constabulary, said: “We welcome the additional funding which has been provided to support our ongoing work to make areas of our county an even safer place for everyone.
“Anti-social behaviour can have a significant and detrimental impact on the communities where is occurs. Our neighbourhood policing teams work closely in partnership with local agencies, groups and communities to prevent offending and take action when offences happen.
“The safety of women and girls is a key priority for our force. This funding means we will now be able to further protect our communities.
“I have no doubt that all of the work, supported by this funding, will further strengthen our ability to tackle anti-social behaviour and violence against women and girls.”
