Policing in Cumbria is focused upon the needs of our communities. People in Cumbria told us they would like to be policed by people they know. In February 2003, the Police Authority agreed to increase the number of constables to secure the establishment of Local Policing Teams and since April 2003 the Constabulary has organised into nineteen Local Policing Teams within the three territorial Basic Command Units. They comprise dedicated community beat officers, 24-hour patrol officers, police community support officers and special constables. Together they deliver Neighbourhood Policing using intelligence-led approaches to focus on local problems. Detectives within the area’s Criminal Intelligence Department and roads policing-skilled officers within the Constabulary’s Mobile Support Group support the local policing teams.

Reflecting upon the achievement of our five year crime targets, I can say that we have seen several successes. We have seen substantial reductions in the burglaries of people’s homes and we have seen far fewer thefts from vehicles; however, there is still much work to be done in these areas. More significantly, although the nuisance and disorder element of the violent crime category has increased, as it has nationally, there has been no corresponding increase in serious violent crime. In fact, the Constabulary priority of ‘early intervention’ in instances of disorder is seeing a reduction in more serious assaults.

Our overall aim is: ‘to ensure the communities of Cumbria feel safe, satisfied and reassured.’ We will continue to pursue this aim, ensuring that all communities, citizens, and our partners in other agencies, both statutory and voluntary, are involved in determining how local communities are policed.