Pictured at David Allen’s recent drop-in session at the Maryport office (left to right): Rebecca Wilson, CCHA Lettings & Neighbourhoods Officer; PCSO Kerry Harris; PCSO Sam Steele; Marie Hardeman, CCHA Executive Director of Customers and Communities; David Allen, Cumbria Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner
A local partnership between Castles & Coasts Housing Association (CCHA) and Cumbria Police has helped reduce anti-social behaviour (ASB) in Maryport by over 50%* in the past two years.
CCHA have made their local office in Maryport available to the police to use as a base, meaning both organisations have a visible presence right in the heart of the Maryport community to help tackle ASB and strengthen community safety.
Marie Hardeman, Executive Director of Customers and Communities at CCHA said: “Everyone deserves to feel safe in their home and in their local community. ASB can have a huge impact on our residents and their communities, so co-location with the police is really key for us. It gives us and the police extra visibility to encourage Maryport residents to come and report issues. We can also share information with the police more easily, and with residents about local initiatives that can help to prevent ASB.
“We’re committed to working with all our partners, residents and our local communities to tackle ASB. We’ve had some very positive feedback from Maryport residents and seeing their reports of ASB fall by more than 50% over the past two years is really encouraging.”
The co-location initiative gives the police more opportunities for closer community engagement, a visible policing footprint and enables faster response times to any local concerns.
David Allen, Cumbria Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, recently held a resident drop-in session at the office hub. He said: “One of the promises that I made when I was running for election was that we would have more visible policing in our communities across Cumbria.
“I’m looking for innovative ways where the Police can be co-located with key organisations such as housing providers like Castles & Coasts and I’m glad that there is now a base that the local neighbourhood team in Maryport can work from at anytime they need.”
There’s more information on ASB, how to report it and what support CCHA can offer residents on CCHA’s website here.
* ASB that is reported to CCHA
Click on the video below to hear from Marie Hardeman and PC Sam Steele.
