Penrith is one of three Cumbrian towns which have been picked out to receive funding in the battle against anti-social behaviour.
The county’s police, fire and crime commissioner Peter McCall has secured £465,000 from the Home Office Safer Streets Fund 5 for initiatives to tackle anti-social behaviour in the three towns.
This has been match funded by the PFCC, Cumbria Constabulary and Cumberland Council with an additional amount of £737,522.98 to assist the project over the next two years.
In Penrith, the reduction of anti-social behaviour and anti-social driving in the town centre will be the focus of the funding, receiving £190,813.
Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service will expand its current Road Awareness Pack including the development of educational resources using virtual reality technology.
This will allow young people to experience a variety of driving scenarios and outcomes in a fully immersive manner including drink/drug and risky driving.
This enhanced education can be delivered in anti-social driving hotspot locations to encourage drivers to take responsibility for their actions.
Workington has been given £127,600 and Hammonds Pond in Carlisle will benefit from £146,500.
All three areas will benefit from a team of youth outreach workers who will be employed to respond to youth antisocial behaviour, providing mediation, restorative justice, safeguarding and intervention to reduce offences and create a more respectful environment in these areas to reduce concerns for residents.
Chief Superintendent Richard Quinn, of Cumbria Constabulary, said: “Anti-social behaviour can have a significant and detrimental impact on the communities where is occurs. I have no doubt that all of the work, supported by this funding, will further strengthen our ability to tackle anti-social behaviour and violence against women and girls.”
