Cumbria Constabulary has gradually evolved over more than a century, from the formation of Cumberland and Westmorland counties in 1856 to its amalgamation with the Kendal Borough Police (1947), the Carlisle City Police (1967) and more recently the Furness area of Lancashire and Sedbergh area of West Yorkshire in 1974. Cumbria Constabulary was officially formed in April 1974 with 1044 officers.
Cumbria is the second largest county in England by area and with a population of just under half a million, remains one of the most sparsely populated. The county’s largest settlements, Carlisle and Barrow-in-Furness, account for only 15% and 12% of the total population respectively, while only 19 others have a population of more than 2500.
There are significant areas of isolated and rural community, and the county has one of the lowest visible minority ethnic populations in the country. Each year Cumbria, which incorporates the Lake District National Park, attracts over 23 million visitors from all over the world, 7 million of who stay more than one day. . The county has 67 miles of motorway and some 700 miles of trunk and primary roads.
The style and approach to policing adopted by the Constabulary is reflective of the local environment and the county is divided into three operational areas; North, South and West. Each policing area is co-terminus with two district council boundaries and has its own headquarters; Kendal in South Cumbria, Carlisle in North Cumbria and Workington in West Cumbria.
Cumbria Constabulary’s headquarters, Carleton Hall, is located near Penrith.
The areas are responsible for delivery of most of the operational policing services and some of the special functions are provided on a countywide basis from HQ.
Basic Command Units
North Cumbria
Responsible for the delivery of operational policing services in the local authority areas of Carlisle and Eden.
North Cumbria Headquarters: Durranhill Carlisle CA1 3NQ
South Cumbria
Responsible for the delivery of operational policing services in the local authority areas of Barrow and South Lakeland.
South Area Headquarters: Kendal Police Station, Busher Walk, Kendal, LA9 4RJ.
West Cumbria
Responsible for the delivery of operational policing services in the local authority areas of Copeland and Allerdale.
West Area Headquarters: Hall Brow, Workington, CA14 4AP.
Constabulary Criminal Investigation Department
Headquarters CID provides advice to Chief Officers and Area Command Teams on all crime-related matters and assists Crime Managers and the Community Safety Departments in maintaining a corporate approach to the reduction and detection of crime.
Headquarters CID is responsible and accountable for the provision of specialist assistance in the reduction and detection of crime. This includes the provision of Senior Investigating Officers for certain major crime investigations, together with specialist services.
Uniform Operational Support:-
The Uniform Operational Support Command Unit is repsonsible for delivery of the following areas, Roads Policing Unit, Dogs Section, Tactical Support Group, Firearms Training and Operations, Force Communications Centre, Civil Contingencies and Events Planning and an overview with others of the Cumbria Safety Camera Partnership.
Some of the specialisms delivered by the departments are 24hr firearms cover for the Force and responsibility for the management and investigation of all serious injury and fatal road traffic collisions, the planning and command structures for all major events along with anti-terrorism and security advice.
Civil Contingencies and Events Planning Unit - Click here for more information
Communications Centre
Dog Section - Click here for more information
Firearms Operations Unit
Roads Policing Unit - Click here for more information
Tactical Support Group
Underwater Search Team - Click here for more information
Force Communications Centre - Cumbria Constabulary's Communications Centre is committed to achieving excellence and is part of the largest and fastest growing network dedicated to Call and Contact Centres in the North West.
Headquarters Departments:-
Finance and Resources
Business Support
Estates and Facilities
Finance
Fleet
Procurement - Click here for more information on supplies and contracts
Information Technology and Management
Information and Communication Technologies
Customer Services
Systems Integration
ICT Operations
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Media and Marketing
Marketing
Media
Legal Services
Partnerships
Criminal Justice Unit
Community safety
Personnel and Development
Employee Relations
Occupational Health
Health and Safety
Equality and Diversity - Click here for more information
Resourcing and Development
Special Constabualry
Training
Professional Standards
Administration
Anti-Corruption Unit
Complaints and Misconduct
Data Protection and Freedom of Information
Disclosure and CRB
Information Compliance Unit
Information Security
Vetting and Records Unit
Programme Management Unit
Strategic Projects
Strategic Development
Information Management Unit
Strategic Development Unit