Welcome to the June & July edition of your Neighbourhood Policing Newsletter.
You may have seen on our Facebook page we have been taking part in two campaigns, Anti-Social Behaviour Awareness Week (30 June - 6 July) and Neighbourhood Policing Week (23 - 29 June).
Across the two weeks we have been highlighting the work we do all year round with our partners.
Our team continue to work hard to keep our community safe, connected, and informed. From tackling anti-social behaviour and supporting vulnerable residents, to engaging with local schools and hosting community drop-in sessions, it’s been a busy and productive few weeks.
We’ve also included upcoming events and ways you can get involved or share your concerns.
As always, your feedback and support are vital to the work we do.
Inspector Steve Waddell
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PACT (Police And Communities Together) survey
Residents of Silloth and Aspatria
We conducted a recent survey in relation to the North Allerdale area including Silloth and Aspatria. The responses have been analysed and no significant issues have been identified.
Our local officers will continue to address local concerns and respond to crime and disorder in your area and we encourage the local community to continue to report any incidents.
We will be conducting a further survey in 3 months time.
Please continue to report any incidents of crime or anti-social behaviour.
You can report online at https://orlo.uk/IEGFO
Our online live chat function is a new service giving you an alternative way to communicate with a Police officer in real time.
If a crime is in progress always call 999.
You can also phone 101.
Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Neighbourhood Policing Week (23 - 29 June)
Throughout the week we have been highlighting and sharing some of the work we do all year round to help reduce crime and keep people safe.
As well as patrolling their neighbourhoods, they work to tackle local crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour related issues. They often do this by working with partner agencies such as local councils, housing providers and of course our local residents themselves.
Chief Superintendent Andy Wilkinson, Neighbourhood Policing Lead, said: “Neighbourhood Policing Week gives us the opportunity to recognise and celebrate the outstanding work that officers and staff in our NPTs are doing to keep our communities safe.
“They are at the heart of their communities and are a huge part of day-to-day policing in Cumbria.
“Having these visible, community focussed officers mean we are able to offer an accessible police presence and gain a greater understanding of the issues which need to be addressed – especially within our more rural locations.
“I am extremely proud of the role they perform, not just during this week, but every day.”
Read more about the week here - Neighbourhood Policing Week 2025 - Cumbria Constabulary
Anti-Social Behaviour Week - 30 June – 6 July 2025
At the start of July we took part in Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) Awareness Week, a national initiative running from 30 June to 6 July, aimed at highlighting the impact of ASB and promoting safer, stronger communities.
This year’s theme, #MakingCommunitiesSafer, focuses on supporting victims, improving justice system responses, and encouraging better information sharing between agencies.
In January, we launched the Neighbourhood Policing Pledge, which aligns us to the national pillars of Neighbourhood Policing and ensures we deliver the government Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee. The pledge focuses on ten core priority areas of neighbourhood policing, one of those is tackling crime and anti-social behaviour.
As a priority, we launched Operation Enhance in July 2024, which has seen extra patrols in 18 areas identified as hotspots for ASB and serious violence. The operation whilst also being a visible presence has seen officers numerous arrests, stop searches, fixed penalty notices, community engagement and support given to local businesses.
As a result of Operation Enhance and the hard work carried out by the neighbourhood policing teams, the hot spot areas have seen a reduction in ASB by 35.2% between 1 July 2024 and 31 March 2025 compared to the same period in the previous year.
In relation to incidents of ASB involving young people in the hotspot areas over the same period there has been a reduction of 39.4% compared to the previous period.
Operation Enhance will continue throughout 2025/26.
Chief Superintendent Andy Wilkinson, the force’s Neighbourhood Policing lead, said: “Anti-social behaviour (ASB) is a priority, and this week highlights the work our teams and partners do every day to tackle anti-social behaviour.
“As well as responding to incident of ASB, a great deal of work is carried out behind the scenes to prevent further incidents occurring.
“ASB has a detrimental impact on our communities and encourage the public to tell us about incidents that are happening in your local area.
“Reporting allows us to create a picture of activity and allows to take appropriate action to investigate and deter further incidents.”
Councillor Judith Derbyshire, Cabinet Member for Housing and Community Safety at Westmorland and Furness Council, said: “Anti-social behaviour causes real distress and disruption to residents’ lives and has a damaging impact on our communities.
“The multi-agency work of the Community Safety Partnership and Local Focus Hubs is proactively delivering initiatives that address complex cases of ASB in our communities using education, support and, where necessary, enforcement. Alongside Cumbria Police and partners, our efforts bring us closer to achieving our vision of making Westmorland and Furness a safe and welcoming place to live, work and thrive.”
Justin McDermott, Cumberland Council’s Executive Member for Public Health and Communities, said: “Cumberland Council staff and councillors will be out and about all week talking to residents about their ASB concerns. With colleagues from the Community Safety Partnership, we hope to get a real insight into the effects of antisocial behaviour, which can have an incredibly negative impact on people’s wellbeing.
“We’ll also be sharing the help we offer through our Local Focus Hubs and, more strategically, through the Community Safety Partnership – which has ASB as one of its four main priorities.”
We encourage everyone to stay informed and get involved by following Allerdale Police on Facebook for updates on local operations, safety tips, and opportunities to engage with your local policing team.
🔗 Follow Allerdale Police on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AllerdalePolice
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Multiagency walkaround - ASB week
As part of anti-social behaviour awareness week PCSO Pete Nichol and PC Lisa have been out in Harriston.
They joined Castle and Coasts, Aspatria Town Council and Cumberland Council to engage with residents to see what local issues are affecting them in particular antisocial behaviour
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Partnership working and breach of court order
On Monday 30 June, as part of Antisocial Behaviour Week, officers were out on patrol in Maryport with Home Group Housing.
It didn't take long before we received a report about someone keeping a dog in breach of a court order that bans her, for life, from having animals.
The report turned out to be true — she was arrested, and the dog was safely seized by officers.
We can confirm: she’s a very good dog and received plenty of tummy rubs.  
Unfortunately for the owner, officers also found a not-so-fetching surprise — a bag of suspected heroin tucked away nearby.
One suspect is now helping us with two investigations:
 Breaching a court order
Possession with intent to supply heroin
One good dog is off to be rehomed with a loving new family.
One not-so-good owner could be off to be rehomed at His Majesty’s pleasure.
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School talk - ASB week
As part of Anti-Social Behaviour awareness week PCSO Pete Nichol on 30 June, has been into Allonby primary school to explain about antisocial behaviour.
This is part of our intervention work to make young people aware of the issues.
There were some brilliant questions from the students.
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On 30 June, PCSO Nichol also visited Solway Community school in Silloth.
He spoke about about hate crime and the negative impact it can have for the victims.
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Mini police receive end of year certificates
On 29 June, PCSO Pete Nichol has been into Richmondhill school Aspatria with the mini police to give out the end of year certificates.
The mini police have worked really hard this year raising awareness about speeding both in the school for the other pupils and in the town.
They have been into a residential home to visit the residents and have worked really hard all year!! Well done Richmondhill school mini police you are a real credit to the school and the town of Aspatria.
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Disqualified driver
On 28 June, officers stopped a vehicle after it drove at speed past officers on Allonby Coast Road.
The driver was disqualified and didn't have insurance so his vehicle seized.
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Day of action - 20 June
On 20 June, we conducted a proactive day of action in Workington, Aspatria and Silloth.
Using our drone in Silloth, officers spotted a vehicle that tried to evade Police. The drone tracked it, guiding ground units to intercept. The driver was arrested under Section 5A of the Road Traffic Act after failing a drug wipe for Cannabis.
Later, on Eden Street, Silloth, officers stopped another vehicle. The driver failed a drug wipe for Cocaine, and a search uncovered a quantity of drugs, leading to the arrest of the male driver and female passenger for Possession with Intent to Supply Class A Drugs. The male was also arrested for possession of a bladed article.
All suspects have been released under investigation while enquiries continue.
We’re committed to keeping our communities safe. If you have information about crime in your area, contact us on 101 or Crime stoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
National Amnesty
Cumbria Police is supporting a national 'Ninja Sword' amnesty, ahead of a ban on owning such weapons coming into effect.
From August 1, it will be illegal to possess, sell, make or import the weapon. Those who currently possess a Ninja sword will not be permitted to keep it once the order comes into effect, unless a specific legal defence applies.
Ninja Swords are a sword which has length of at least 14 inches, but no more than 24 inches in length. The sword must have the following:
- A primary straight cutting edge
- A secondary straight cutting edge
- A blunt spine
- And either a tanto style point or a reversed tanto style point
Ahead of the ban coming into place, a surrender scheme is taking place from today until July 31 to allow people to hand them in.
Please follow guidance on the Home Office website and have the relevant paperwork completed before handing in the swords before visiting a police station.
More: https://orlo.uk/z9o8Y
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Officers help Scouts with gardening
Good to see the scouts maintaining the pocket park in Maryport.
We thought we would lend them a hand while on foot patrol.
Lately the area is being used for shop bought cans/bottles of alcohol. This is causing some issues.
There is a Public Space Protection Order in town, which means you cannot drink alcohol in the town centre.
Keep it at home or in the pub and don't ruin the work being done by these heroes.
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You said, we did - speeding
Aspatria town Council have raised the issue of cars speeding within the town.
On 24 June, PCSO Pete Nichol has been out with the speed camera in the town.
This stretch of road has a play park and a school around the corner there are no excuses for speeding so please stick within the speed limit.
Drug dealing in Silloth & Maryport
We have received reports of drug dealing in Silloth and Maryport and have been taking proactive action.
Silloth
Officers have carried out patrols and utilised drones to identify and trace suspected drug dealing activity.
This resulted in two drivers being stopped and arrested for drug driving offences.
Two individuals were also located and arrested for drug supply offences and a quantity of drugs and cash seized - Offences remain under investigation.
Maryport
High Visibility and covert proactive patrols
Property closure on Rydal Street - Joint agency work with housing partners resulting in a Closure Order for a residential address on Rydal Street due to high levels of drug related disorder.
Intelligence lead drug searches resulting in the recovery of drugs, cash and the arrest of suspected drug dealers. These offences remain under investigation
We are looking to challenge the use and supply of drugs in this area.
Tell us about:
👉Suspicious activity on your street
👉Suspicious people or vehicles on your street
👉Drug supply in your community
👉Any concerns about crime in your neighbourhood
Anyone with information can report online at www.cumbria.police.uk/report-it.
Alternatively you can contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Speeding Abbeytown area
We have had reports of speeding in and around Abbeytown, as a result we have patrols in the area and using the mobile speed gun to conduct speed enforcement.
We have also been visiting school talks to educate teenagers on road safety and the dangers of speeding.
OPERATION ENHANCE: Tell us your thoughts about anti-social behaviour and violence hotspots in Cumbria
We, the Police and Crime Commissioner and partners have secured £1 million of extra funding which will see extra patrols in 18 areas, identified by statistical analysis as the county's hotspot areas of anti-social behaviour and serious violence.
These areas include areas of Carlisle, Barrow, Workington, Whitehaven, Kendal, Penrith, Maryport, Cleator Moor, Ulverston and Bowness-on-Windermere.
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StreetSafe is a service that allows you to report safety concerns in public places without giving us your name.
This includes issues like poorly lit streets, abandoned buildings, or vandalism, as well as instances where you feel unsafe due to someone following or verbally abusing you.
Report an issue here: StreetSafe | Cumbria Police
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