Published at 16:57, Friday, 28 September 2012

SOUTH Cumbria’s new top cop says he wants the public to “help me help them” in the battle against crime.

POSITIVE NEWS: Mark Pannone, superintendent for South Cumbria, has welcomed the decrease in crime figures for Barrow and South Lakes

Superintendent Mark Pannone took up the position as officer in charge of the South Cumbria policing area at the beginning of this month.

He takes up the role in a year when Barrow and the South Lakes have experienced a number of violent incidents.

These included the death of Barrow man Paul Green, 44, who died after he was found unconscious in Penrith Street, Barrow, in May, as well as the murder of Jane Archbold, 77, in Outgate, near Hawkshead, last month.

However, Supt Pannone said overall there were still very small amounts of violent crime in Barrow and the South Lakes and overall crime was on the decrease.

“We have had more serious violence than last year, but in context there is no trend as such, and there are a few unfortunate incidents that have happened this year and they have all been investigated to a high level,” he said.

“I think we have had, this year, something like 30 incidents of serious assault. This sounds dramatic but it is still, relatively speaking, a low number when you compare Barrow and the South Lakes to other equivalent areas.”

Overall crime in South Lakes and Barrow was down more than six per cent in August compared to the same month last year and down three per cent for the year to date, he said.

The number of assaults resulting in injury were down 25 per cent for August compared to the same month last year, while anti-social behaviour was down more than six per cent in the year to date compared to 2011, he said.

He added: “Overall we have got some really positive work going on and that is because of the dedication of the officers and the fact that the public are prepared to engage with us.”

Along with forces around the country, Cumbria police is facing the difficulty of major funding cuts, as well as the “uncertainty” of having a police and crime commissioner elected in November.

The commissioner will replace Cumbria Police Authority and take a key role in running the constabulary and make decisions such as appointing or removing the chief constable and setting the police budget.

“We are in a position of having huge cuts and with an element of uncertainty with the police and crime commissioner and increased expectations on our officers, which creates challenges,” said Supt Pannone.

“With the public sector being cut, there are fewer public services about to deal with issues so where there are individuals who need help inevitably it is the police who are the first point of contact.”

Police could only fight crime if the community kept helping them by giving them information, reporting crime and co-operating when officers tried to resolve conflicts and issues, he said.

“We are here to serve the community and our priorities are their priorities,” he added.

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