DRIVING home the message that if you live in Cumbria, you reside in a comparatively safe place will be one of the force’s challenges over the coming year, says Cumbria’s Chief Constable.

In this year’s 2002-2003 joint annual report of the Cumbria Police Authority and Cumbria Constabulary, the force’s senior policeman Michael Baxter also says the fear of crime is a major issue for the county.

Writing in the report, Mr Baxter says: “The past year has demonstrated the commitment of the constabulary to tackle crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour. Overall trends are downwards but the real paradox is that while Cumbria is still one of the safest places in Britain, people still feel disproportionately fearful of crime.

“The challenge is to reduce that fear by delivering a policing service which tackles crime and disorder, while providing a visible, accessible and reassuring presence.” Looking back over the year, Mr Baxter said in response to public requests, the force had opened police stations for longer periods of time, while mobile police stations had been introduced elsewhere and rural stations were now more accessible.

He said the approval by the police authority of the Local Policing Team programme to cover every ward in Cumbria was the “most significant development” of the past year.

It is aimed to put 300 officers “back into the heart of communities” over the next four years above and beyond normal recruiting and retirements.

Led by an inspector, each Local Policing Team will have its own sergeants and constables and will be accountable for police performance and responding to community concerns.

Mr Baxter said the national priorities for 2003 and 2004 included tackling anti-social behaviour and reducing gun and street crime, while at a local level, dismantling the drugs market, targeting domestic burglary, violent crime and vehicle crimes remained the force’s key interests.