Op Enhance
Operation Enhance
Operation Enhance is Cumbria Police's new county-wide crackdown on anti-social behaviour (ASB) and serious violence, alongside partners.
Cumbria’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner secured an additional £1m of extra funding from the Government’s Hotspot Response Fund to target anti-social behaviour (ASB) and serious violence in hotspot areas across the county.
There will be extra police patrols in areas identified as hotspots for anti-social behaviour and/or serious violence across the county. These areas include areas of Carlisle, Barrow, Workington, Whitehaven, Kendal, Penrith, Maryport, Cleator Moor, Ulverston and Bowness-on-Windermere.
These high visibility patrols will also target those who commit serious violence in these areas too – including arson, robbery and violence including sexual assaults - to ensure the safety of our communities.
This page will help you to find out more about antisocial behaviour and serious violence and how to report it as well as show you the work we’re doing with our partners to tackle the local issues!
We are keen to hear the thoughts of people who live and work in these hotspot areas – please take five minutes to complete this survey: https://forms.office.com/e/srjy010hfq
Find out more about anti-social behaviour.
Find out more about Operation Enhance and the areas designated as Hotspots.
Anti-social behaviour (ASB) significantly impacts individuals, affecting their sense of safety within their community.
Understanding Anti-Social Behaviour
Anti-social behaviour refers to a wide range of unacceptable activities that adversely affect people’s lives on a daily basis. It leaves victims feeling helpless, desperate, and drastically reduces their quality of life. ASB can involve actions that cause harm to individuals, the community, or the environment. It encompasses behaviour that leaves you feeling alarmed, harassed, or distressed, including fear of crime, concerns about public safety, public disorder, or public nuisance.
Examples include:
- Substance misuse, such as dealing or using drugs in public spaces.
- Drinking alcohol on the streets.
- Animal-related issues, like failing to properly restrain a dog in public places or dog fouling.
- Inconsiderate or inappropriate use of vehicles including bikes.
- Nuisance caused by rowdy or inconsiderate neighbours.
- Graffiti, vandalism, and littering.
- Misuse of fireworks.
- Making hoax calls.
- Hate crime, including bullying and abusive behaviour based on race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, or disability.
- Use of imitation weapons, such as BB guns, in public areas.
- Prostitution-related activities.
- Begging and vagrancy.
Some of the described anti-social behaviours are criminal offences, such as criminal damage or drug dealing, which can result in arrest and prosecution
Everyone deserves to live a life free from anti-social behaviour. Your local council, the police, and other community safety partner agencies, including the fire service and social housing landlords, have a responsibility to address anti-social behaviour and assist those affected by it.
If you are experiencing problems with anti-social behaviour, you can report to police online (report antisocial behaviour) or by phone on 101, or you can contact your local council:
Contact the police if you are experiencing any of the following issues:
- Drug dealing.
- Alcohol-fuelled crime/violence.
- Criminal damage.
- Gang-related activities.
- Assault.
- Prostitution or kerb-crawling.
- Stolen property.
- Hate crime incidents.
- Use of imitation weapons, such as BB guns, in public areas.
There are various anti-social behaviour issues where the police may not be the most appropriate point of contact.
- Aggressive begging.
- Vehicle nuisance.
- Noise nuisance.
- Neighbour nuisance.
- Graffiti, vandalism, fly-tipping and littering.
- Dog-related anti-social behaviour and fouling
- Illegal or underage sales—report illegal goods to Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs Service, and report the sale of age-restricted goods to Trading Standards.
- Misuse of fireworks—contact the Fire Service on 999 in case of immediate danger, but the council can also investigate and take action.
Click the link below to visit site
Westmorland and Furness Council
If you are experiencing ASB within rented accommodation, please contact your landlord or housing association.
Op Enhance’s high visibility patrols will also target those who commit serious violence in these areas too – including arson, robbery and violence including sexual assaults - to ensure the safety of our communities.
It is unacceptable to threaten and commit serious violence, this has a lasting impact on individuals and the wider community.
Visit our advice and information page which gives you details of support if you are a victim and / or witness of crime: Support for victims and witnesses of crime
You can also visit the Victim’s Hub on Cumbria Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner’s website: https://cumbria-pfcc.gov.uk/victims-hub
You can also report anti-social behaviour activity to CrimeStoppers, an independent charity working to help communities. Anything reported to CrimeStoppers is in complete confidence and you will remain anonymous.
To contact them please call 0800 555 111 or visit their website to report online.
Independent UK charity taking crime information anonymously | Crimestoppers (crimestoppers-uk.org)