An operation is being launched to help clamp down on crime and keep women safe as pubs and nightclubs begin to open up fully.
Operation Vigilant will see uniformed police officers on patrol to deter potential offenders.
Night shift officers have undergone training to help them identify the signs of offenders who may target vulnerable people coming out of venues in the evening.
It is in response to a recent survey which found that only 23 per cent of women felt safe in the night-time economy.”
Any person whose behaviour matches to certain markers the officers have been told to look out for will be stopped by uniformed officers and questioned.
Detective Chief Inspector Vicki Coombes, Operation Vigilant lead said: “This is a deterrence campaign aimed at keeping people safe.
“As well as patrolling the night-time economy, officers will also be on hand should a member of the public need to stop them to ask for help.
“Providing officers with up-to-date training is vital to ensure they have the knowledge and confidence to stop those that rouse their suspicions.
“At the worst, an individual we be stopped and spoken to, and they will have lost five minutes of their night speaking to an officer but weighing that up against potentially stopping someone becoming a victim of sexual violence is worth it.
“While it is important to note that, opportunistic stranger assaults are thankfully very rare in the county that does not mean we should slacken our approach.
“Cumbria remains one of the safest places to live and visit and we want it to stay that way.”
Cumbria’s police and crime commissioner Peter McCall said: “It’s incredibly important that everyone feels safe whilst on a night out in Cumbria and having a more visible police presence can only help.
“Operation Vigilant is a well-timed operation and I hope that it creates a safer and more comfortable environment for everyone involved.
“The presence of trained police and with the offer of training for bar staff and taxi drivers, I’m sure that it will deter these opportunistic criminals and therefore reduce crime.”
The Operation Vigilant training will be rolled out to those in positions of professional support in the night-time economy, including taxi drivers, door and bar staff.
There are many safety schemes already in existence around Cumbria, including Ask for Angela and Safe Spaces.
