Peter McCall, has secured £465,000 from the Home Office Safer Streets Fund 5 for initiatives to tackle anti-social behaviour in three towns in Cumbria.

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.

Speaking on the funding, PFCC Peter McCall, said: “This funding will make a real difference to communities in Cumbria by reducing ASB but also providing a safe environment and security for those who just want to use their local amenities in a safe and respectful way.

“I am committed to working with partners to create a county that is and feels safe for all, which is why this funding mainly focuses on reducing ASB and VAWG offences in hot-spot areas as well as providing preventative initiatives to stop incidents happening in the first place."

Hammond’s Pond in Carlisle will benefit from £146,515.75 of funding to reduce off-road vehicle ASB, youth related ASB and violence against women and girls (VAWG) offences.

The funding will be used to improve lighting in the park to act as a deterrent on offences and improve feelings of safety.

Four local Neighbourhood Policing Officers (NPT) will also receive drone training to assist with the gathering of evidence around offending.

The Line in Workington will receive £127,671.25 to reduce ASB and VAWG offences in the area.

The funding will provide physical enhancements to the area including the removal of greenery to provide users with better sights and reduce hiding places for those looking to commit or have committed an offence, replace broken paving to improve accessibility, schools will design murals to replace the current graffiti and provide signage with direct links to reporting options to the Council and Police. Workington NPT will also receive drone training, similar to Carlisle.

In Penrith, the reduction of ASB and anti-social driving (ASD) in the Town Centre will be the focus of the funding, receiving £190,813.

Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service will expand their 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.