REPORTS of anti-social behaviour have fallen in Carlisle city centre in the last year, according to latest figures from Cumbria Police. 

There has been a two per cent decrease in instances of anti-social behaviour in the last year (April 2023-March 2024).

423 instances of anti-social behaviour were reported across the 2022/2023 financial year, whereas 414 have been reported in the latest year. 

Inspector Andrew Leather from the Carlisle neighbourhood policing team said: “Anti-social behaviour is a priority for us within the city centre, and we want to ensure people are enjoying their time within the city.

“Anti-social behaviour has reduced by 2.1 per cent in the 2023/24 financial year from 423 incidents in 22/23 compared to 414 in 23/24."

Following a few instances of anti-social behaviour last November and earlier this year, Cumbria Police had a greater presence in Carlisle city centre which led to an increase in the number of offences being reported in February and March. 

Newly-elected police, fire, and crime commissioner David Allen, who used to work the city centre beat, says that such a spike is to be expected.

"That's what happens. If you have a police presence, they will deal with people who are causing anti-social behaviour rather than nothing getting done.

"You will see an increase until we've dealt with it and then you'll see a fall off."

The focus when tackling anti-social behaviour in the city centre is twofold, he said. It involves a focus on the education and prevention of reoffending rather than putting a young person into the criminal justice system.

But Mr Allen, who ran for the role on a platform of tackling anti-social behaviour, is also keen to have a more visible police presence.

This has been bolstered by an extra £1million funding from the Home Office which will put more resources and officers into 18 hotspots across the county.

"At the end of June/July, we'll be increasing the number of officers in those 18 hotspots and also providing additional funding for additional resources to go in," he said.

"In the summer months, when the schools break up and all the kids start to gather again, we'll be there in greater numbers. We'll be focused on it to tackle it.

"A million pounds is a lot of money for us to use, we can do some real good with that."

Beyond this, he hopes to increase police visibility with physical hubs in collaboration with other local agencies.

"I can't build new police stations in the town centres, but what I want to do is create hubs with other agencies.

"People will know we're there.

"It will make a difference."