Partners come together to protect Westmorland and Furness communities
Agencies came together to pledge their commitment to working together to protect their local communities from crime and make people feel safer.
Partners met on April 4 to design and set up the Westmorland and Furness Community Safety Partnership. The CSP will have a prevention and early intervention approach where children and young people are a key focus.
The partnership includes Westmorland and Furness Council, Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service, Cumbria Constabulary, NHS Integrated Care Board and the Probation Service, as well as representatives from the voluntary and third sectors.
It is chaired by Steph Cordon, Director of Thriving Communities at Westmorland Furness Council.
She said: "I am delighted to chair the new Westmorland and Furness Community Safety Partnership and to see the enthusiasm and commitment already demonstrated by the partners to work together and make a positive impact in the diverse communities of Westmorland and Furness. There is a lot to do but so much potential to make a real difference to people's lives.
"Our prevention work will include designing out crime, changing physical environments, promoting education and other measures, while early intervention will include tackling the risk factors that harm people and communities swiftly, keeping young people out of the criminal justice system and improving their life chances.
"It is critical that we listen, show leadership by supporting community cohesion in difficult times and resolve local problems at the right time. I can't wait to see this new partnership doing just that."
The partnership aims to:
• Protect local communities from crime and help people feel safer.
• Deal with local issues like antisocial behaviour, drug or alcohol misuse and re-offending.
• Assess local crime priorities and consult partners and the local community about how to deal with them.
Local Focus Hubs for Barrow, Eden and South Lakeland will bring partners together to work on the ground in communities to meet areas' particular needs, identified by the three-year Strategic Threat Assessment & Partnership Plan or through local knowledge and intelligence.
Themed delivery groups will also be created to tackle issues and a CSP manager and assistant manager employed to coordinate action.