NEW community policing roles have been introduced to a number of West Cumbrian communities to tackle neighbourhood issues that are causing concern among residents.
Communities in Maryport, Whitehaven and Workington are to benefit from dedicated Community Beat Officers which will enhance the Local Focus teams delivering neighbourhood policing in the area.
The Community Beat Officers will be dedicated to understanding and responding to their concerns and issues relating to crime and anti-social behaviour.
PC Catherine Higson began her dedicated role in Workington on Monday 29 November.
Maryport’s community beat officer, PC Stacy Hucker, will start on Monday December 13, with an officer carrying out the same role in Whitehaven starting early in the new year.
Neighbourhood Policing Team Inspector Rachel Gale said: “In recent years, we have seen dedicated officers, deployed from local areas, especially in rural locations.
"These officers work alongside our Local Focus neighbourhood policing teams, which consist of dedicated officers and PCSOs who work closely with partner agencies to tackle issues that matter to residents and businesses.
"They will be visible to local residents, businesses and visitors to the town, being proactive in the areas, speaking to people, understanding their issues and working with them and partners to prevent and detect crime, and tackle anti-social behaviour. This is something we know our communities want, and ask for, and we are pleased we are able to introduce these additional officers as part of the policing team in the area.
Community Beat Officer Stacy Hucker. Pic: Cumbria Police
"We know from having dedicated local officers in other areas of county such as Alston, Brampton and Dalton, that this makes a big difference to those communities and we aim to continue to roll this out to other areas of Cumbria as our student Officers, taken on via Operation Uplift – increase in police officers nationally, complete their training."
If you wish to contact Workington or Maryport’s community beat officers, you can do so by reporting information online at www.cumbria.police.uk/report-it.
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