CUMBRIA Police have spoken of the importance of reporting incidents of indecent exposure immediately - and said the 'courage and strength' of victims is key in finding perpetrators.

Since the turn of the new year, there have been numerous incidents of the offence reported in the Carlisle area.

And in the last few days, Sarah Everard’s killer, Wayne Couzens, was charged with four counts of indecent exposure.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said the alleged offences occurred in the weeks before he kidnapped Everard.

It follows an investigation by the Metropolitan police, who said all four alleged incidents took place in the Swanley area, in Kent, close to south London.

Since August 2021, there have been 15 reports regarding indecent exposure in the Carlisle area, with a further eight reports in Allerdale and seven in Copeland.

As well as this, there have been 18 reports of indecent exposure in North Cumbria over the last seven months.

Discussing the figures, a spokesperson for Cumbria Police said: “Reports of indecent exposures are taken extremely seriously and officers treat such reports with care and professionalism due to the significant impact they can have on victims.

“We would urge anyone who has been a victim of such an offence to report it immediately on 999 so that the incident can be acted upon swiftly.

“A key factor in any report of such an offence resulting in a successful charge and prosecution is the courage and strength shown by victims and witnesses in reporting these incidents so they can be investigated thoroughly and effectively, as quickly as possible.

“We would urge anyone with information about these, or any other sexual offences, to contact the police immediately.”

You can report online at cumbria.police.uk/reportit You can also phone on 101.

Alternatively you can contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Always call 999 in an emergency and/or when a crime is in progress.