A ZERO-tolerance approach is going to be taken on anti-social behaviour in Copeland after more than 30 incidents were recorded in one month

Police are set to clamp down on trouble in key areas, following reports of young people drinking, causing nuisance and using off-road motorbikes.

Figures from Cumbria Police revealed that a total of 30 incidents of anti-social behaviour were dealt with in Egremont and Cleator Moor throughout April.

Multiple young people were spoken to by police community support officers, and several were referred to the Child Centred Policing Team.

But it isn’t just young people breaking rules within the borough, as police community support officers in Whitehaven have also witnessed residents ignoring a Public Spaces Protection Order at St Nicholas Gardens.

The order was put in place in June 2019, preventing the consumption of alcohol in the town centre.

But on Wednesday, support officers found individuals intoxicated and acting antisocially, and reported one person for drinking alcohol.

Mike Starkie, Mayor of Copeland, was concerned by these reports, and has vowed to work with officers to clamp down on the issue and reclaim the park for the community.

He said: “It’s disappointing that anti-social behaviour has been reported in St Nicholas’ Gardens.

“We introduced a Public Space Protection Order in the area two years ago, which gives us and the police extra powers to deal with alcohol-consumption and nuisance behaviour which detracts from the amenity of the gardens.

“The vast majority of people enjoy the gardens in a peaceful and respectful way, but we will continue to work closely with the police to tackle those who choose to ignore the rules.”

Mr Starkie added: “We will also work closely with the police to deal with wider issues of anti-social behaviour reported in Egremont and Cleator Moor.”