A national survey has found Cumbria Police to be the number one force in England and Wales for understanding residents’ concerns.

The survey also found most people have confidence in local policing and the majority of those asked in our county agreed officers in their community can be trusted.

Assistant Chief Constable Jonathan Blackwell said: “I am extremely proud of all the positive results the force continues to achieve.

“We are here to serve this county and our communities, and one of the best measures of how successful we are at doing so is what our residents think about the policing service they receive.

“What is particularly pleasing is most people taking part in this survey agree we understand their concerns and are proactively tackling anti-social behaviour and crime.

“It is also a reflection of the professionalism, empathy and caring nature of officers and staff that most people agreed they would be treated with respect and that they had overall confidence in what we do.”

Results from the survey, used by the Government to measure crime and develop ways of tackling it, also revealed that nearly 85 percent of people surveyed agreed police in Cumbria would treat them with respect.

With more than 72 percent had overall confidence in policing in Cumbria, placing the county in the top five nationally.

While Cumbria was second in England and Wales for the percentage of people who agreed the force and their local council were dealing with the anti-social behaviour and crime issues that mattered.

Cumbria Police have been proactive in tackling crime, anti-social behaviour and keeping people safe with several operations aimed at these.

The result of a month-long road safety operation last month that resulted in more than 150 arrests.

While an operation targeting the threat from county lines drugs crime earlier this year in which police made nearly 30 arrests, discovered a string of drug stashes and seized £44,000 in a two-day crackdown in and around Carlisle.

The festive period was made safer with more than 300 arrests were made during operational activity targeting criminal activity.