The unseen work of Cumbria police has been highlighted to mark the start of Neighbourhood Policing Week.
Officers working in the community deal with anti-social behaviour and work with agencies to help educate and prevent crime before it happens.
Superintendent Matthew Pearman said: “Police officers are here 365 days a year and, even in the midst of the pandemic, this is the type of work which goes on every day in our local communities.
“It may not be as celebrated as some other areas of policing but local neighbourhood officers who know their community and can spot emerging issues before they become something more serious are invaluable to policing and to communities, which is why we are so keen to take advantage of Neighbourhood Policing Week to highlight their role.”
Community officers were out to help people in Penrith celebrate the festive period safely.
A multi-agency welfare hub, planned and implemented by Cumbria police’s Eden Neighbourhood Policing Team, had trained paramedics, mental health support workers and firefighters on hand to help if needed.
The hub was in place on dates including Friday December 17, Boxing Day night and New Year’s Eve.
It was set up in the Market Square between 7.30pm and 1am, then relocated to Sandgate until 3am as demand in the night-time economy shifted.
Penrith town Sergeant Jack Stabler said: “Penrith is a popular location to celebrate over the festive period and it is essential that we plan for the potential demand increase for both the town and surrounding rural areas.
“The aim of the Local Focus Hub is to ensure we effectively support and prioritise the needs of our local communities through public engagement, visible policing and partnership problem solving.
“It was vital that a partnership approach was implemented to ensure that we could continue to keep people safe and manage emergency service demand across all sectors.
“This set-up means the emergency services are all working together in the same place, helping people at what is one of the busiest times of the year.”
Sgt Stabler added: “The welfare hub was very well received from all members of public and it cannot be quantified what crime may have prevented by having such a large, uniformed presence in the town centre.
“We are already planning where the welfare hub can be reimplemented over the next 12 months in our event calendar.
“Thank you to all agencies and members of public who utilised this service.”
Friday December 17
- 11 calls or people dealt with in total.
- Two collapses which were assessed and dealt with on-site and patients discharged.
- One asthma attack treated and discharged on site.
- One drugs-induced unconscious patient who was monitored, making sure they were safe.
- One man quickly checked over and cleared who was being spoken to by police regarding criminal damage.
- Two assaults.
- Two people arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly.
Staff also helped a number of people who were intoxicated and/or vulnerable and just needed to sober up or have their phones recharged and people contacted to arrange transport home.
These people were found in various places around the town.
Two were taken home by the team as they had lost their phones and purses and lived a short distance from the town.
Boxing Day
- Five patients – one slashed hand from a glass (First aid administered and bandaged).
- Four general welfare issues, making sure they got home OK, including one given a lift due to losing her phone, jacket and bag and having no way home.
- Two people arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly.
New Year’s Eve
- Nine patients – mainly welfare cases and/or intoxicated.
- One who had previously been dealt with on December 17 was dealt with again.
- One response to Bridge Lane for an unconscious man, who was located and found to be intoxicated and then helped home safely.
