POLICE say they are starting 2020 with a bang – beginning the year with a Week of Action to crack down on persistent crime issues.

Starting this week officers are set to show they are not a 'soft touch' , tackling crime and engaging with the community.

In the Barrow area this is said to include drink driving, the community impact of drugs abuse and undertaking focused town centre policing activity.

In the South Lakes area it will include targeting rural and cross-border crime, antisocial behaviour, speeding and drink driving.

Police will not be working alone to target these high priority issues but will be working alongside partner agencies.

Superintendent for South Cumbria Sarah Jackson said: “As part of this week of action we are focusing on priorities raised by the local community and targeting issues important to them.

“We continue to work on these issues throughout the year, and during this week we will have officers out locally in a highly visible manner showcasing the work that goes on continuously throughout the year.

“Cumbria is not a soft touch, and we hope this week sends out a message to those who target us.”

A little over a year ago, the constabulary held its last Week of Action which focused on the newly established Local Focus Hubs which have been set up around the county.

The hubs have brought police and partners such as fire, health, social workers and councils together, often under one roof, where everyone can discuss issues which impact multiple agencies and draw up a strategy to tackle them.

Temporary Chief Superintendent Rob O’Connor said: “The Local Focus Hubs have been established for at least a year now – in some cases considerably more than that – and we are seeing real results on the ground.

“The different agencies which once may have been guilty of working in silo are now working side-by-side to resolve the same issues and it is the public which benefits from such an approach.

“A lot of this work typically goes on behind closed doors.

"However, in January we are seeking to shine a spotlight the good work of our officer and their colleagues in partner agencies.”

Police and crime commissioner for Cumbria, Peter McCall, said: “The Local Focus Hubs enable us to work in true partnership with local agencies, statutory organisations and the third sector, all for the benefit of the community.

"Everyone working together, rather than each one operating alone, can only be a good thing.

Police made a number of arrest in last year's Week of Action crackdown held in September.