THE day after police representatives met with town councillors to discuss escalating anti-social behaviour in Cockermouth, youths started a fire in the repeatedly-vandalised public toilets.

There have been three major incidents at the Main Street toilets in the last three months and many minor ones, said Cllr Simon Nicholson.

A fire was started in the male toilets in Sainsbury's on January 2.

"I went down to Main Street at 4pm on Thursday and was sorting out the door, trying to make it more secure," he said.

"By 5pm some kids had set a load of paper on fire."

His wife, Rebecca, and fellow councillor, Alan Kennon, put it out.

The council, which owns the public toilets, had raised concerns with police about anti-social behaviour around town.

Cllr Nicholson spoke to the youngsters one day and asked them to stop it.

"They went down later and trashed the door with a shopping trolley," he said.

"It's an ongoing problem. We just want to keep them open but will have to close them if it costs too much."

Sgt Leesa Edwards and PCSO Clare Parker attended the monthly town hall meeting on Wednesday.

"We are aware of a certain group of children in Cockermouth that are causing some issues. Two are being dealt with in particular," said Sgt Edwards.

Clare Parker has really good links with the local schools, she said.

"In relation to the town centre toilets they were fully investigated but we could not identify anyone," she said.

PCSO Parker said: "We have a child-centred policing team, there is a specialist unit which works with families.

"There are a couple of youths that have been named on logs and we are doing quite a lot of work with them.

"We have a hub which works with different agencies, it's all about sharing that information.

"It's about intervention, we want to prevent that child continuing with that behaviour."

'Trail of destruction'

Cllr Watson said: "Children have been identified as being responsible with the Sainsbury's incident. What are you doing to prevent this trail of destruction?"

Sgt Edwards said: "We try to prevent, prevent, prevent. We want to get them back on the straight and narrow but we all know we cannot help everyone, some do not want to be helped."

Cllr David Malloy said: "We used to get a monthly report.

"There used to be 30 to 60 crimes in the town. But we no longer see anything to do with crime and see nothing of the police. It makes it appear as if nothing is going on in Cockermouth but we know for a fact that a lot is going on.

"Speeding is a massive issue in town. Windmill and Lorton Road are two of the busiest roads," he said.

Deputy mayor Andy Semple, who was chairing the meeting, said: "I live on The Moor. Brigham Road is an accident waiting to happen. So many people power down there."

He pointed out the lack of a police presence in town.

"Mayor Alan Smith wrote to the Police Crime Commissioner about the lack of visibility," he said.

"It's good to hear you talk about intervention but there's still that issue of visibility. We do not feel there's a presence."

Sgt Edwards said: "That's across the board, I think everyone is feeling that. There have been massive cuts.

"Clare Parker is always in Cockermouth. She might not be visible on the streets but she's in schools and linking in with social landlords."

Cllr Malloy asked if the town would be getting extra police.

"Workington and Maryport are getting extra police. Cockermouth is not crime free, are we going to get any extras?"

Sgt Edwards said: "There's nothing to say that will not happen. It's certainly something Inspector Rachel Gale is looking into."

Cockermouth crime in figures

Regarding crime figures, there is a monthly newsletter people can access online, she said.

"Cockermouth is still one of the safest places to live in the county.

"People worry about kids standing outside local shops but it's just kids standing around. The fear is a misconception of what's going on."

Over the festive period, the roof was ripped off the council's nativity scene in Market Place.

"This turned out not to be children but was believed to be an intoxicated female," said Sgt Edwards.

The latest Cockermouth crime figures available are for December, which lists the following crimes:

  • Anti-social behaviour    12    16%
  • Criminal damage and arson    8    10.7%
  • Drugs    2    2.7%
  • Other theft    5    6.7%
  • Public order    7    9.3%
  • Robbery    1    1.3%
  • Violence and sexual offences    39    52%
  • Other crime    1    1.3%

Outcomes

  • Other    12    16%
  • Under investigation    32    42.7%
  • Unable to prosecute suspect    21    28%
  • Investigation complete; no suspect identified    7    9.3%
  • Further investigation is not in the public interest    2    2.7%
  • Awaiting court outcome    1    1.3%