MP relaunches petition for more frontline police officers following huge surge in reported crime

Local MP Tim Farron is relaunching his petition for there to be no fewer than 20 officers uniformed police officers covering the South Lakes at any one time after it was revealed that Cumbria had the third biggest increase in reported crime in the country this year.

New figures released today from the Office for National Statistics show that Cumbria had a 22% increase in reported crime, almost four times higher than the national average of 6%.

Cumbria saw a 148% increase in stalking and harassment, a 61% increase in public order offences and a 43% increase in robbery.

Earlier this year, current serving officers in Cumbria and their families spoke out publicly saying that police resources are so stretched in the county that they fear for their own safety and for the safety of the public.

Tim said: "Cumbria recently were rated as 'outstanding' by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary for reporting crime accurately, so it comes as no surprise that we have seen an increase in reported crime.

"But for that increase to be almost four times higher than the average should set alarm bells ringing.

"We're very lucky to have brilliant local officers who do a great job in working to keep us safe, but there simply isn't enough of them.

"And the Government's promise of more officers doesn't go anywhere near far enough to give us the numbers on the ground to make us feel safe."

You can sign Tim's petition here.