Three towns in Cumbria are set to receive funding to tackle anti-social behaviour.

The Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC), Peter McCall, has secured £465,000 from the Home Office Safer Streets Fund 5.

This will be further boosted with match funding by the PFCC, Cumbria Constabulary and Cumberland Council, adding £737,522.98 to assist the project over the next two years.

Carlisle's Hammond’s Pond will receive £146,515.75 to counteract off-road vehicle anti-social behaviour, youth related issues and violence against women and girls (VAWG).

The fund will be used to enhance safety through improved park lighting and drone training for four local Neighbourhood Policing Officers to aid evidence gathering.

The Line in Workington will see £127,671.25 put to use in reducing anti-social behaviour and VAWG offences.

The budget will be allocated for physical modifications to the area such as removing greenery to enhance visibility and reduce hiding places for offenders, replacing faulty paving for improved accessibility, and introducing locally designed murals to replace graffiti.

Additionally, the funds will aid in providing signage linking to reporting facilities to the Council and Police, and provide drone training to Workington's Neighbourhood Policing Team.

Penrith will receive £190,813, focusing on minimising anti-social behaviour and anti-social driving in the town centre.

Enhancement of Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service's Road Awareness Pack with virtual reality technology will allow young people to experience various driving scenarios and outcomes - including drink/drug and risky behaviour.

Addressing youth related anti-social behaviour, a team of youth outreach workers will be employed who will provide mediation, restorative justice, safeguarding and intervention to each of the three areas.

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.

"I would also want those who commit ASB to understand that these measures will also help us to bring them to justice and to deal with them accordingly.

“I am pleased to be working alongside partners such as Cumbria Police, Cumbria Fire and Rescue and Cumberland Council to deliver these projects and I am certain that residents will see the benefits.

“Together we can make Cumbria an even safer place to live, work and visit.”

Backing this initiative Chief Superintendent Richard Quinn, Cumbria Constabulary, said: “We welcome the additional funding which has been provided to support our ongoing work to make areas of our county an even safer place for everyone.

"Anti-social behaviour can have a significant and detrimental impact on the communities where is occurs. Our neighbourhood policing teams work closely in partnership with local agencies, groups and communities to prevent offending and take action when offences happen.

“The safety of women and girls is a key priority for our force. This funding means we will now be able to further protect our communities.

“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.”