Shoppers and businesses in Carlisle will see increased police patrols and local action to tackle town centre crime this summer at peak times, as the Government launches a major blitz to support safer high streets.

Julie Minns, MP for Carlisle and North Cumbria, said: “No one should feel unsafe in our city centre. From addressing anti-social behaviour caused by e-bike riders to tackling shoplifting, our city centre should be for everyone.

“I welcome this crackdown, which will make a real difference to my constituents in Carlisle and send a clear message to those people who bring misery to our high streets that their crimes will no longer go unpunished.”

Carlisle is one of 500 towns and cities that have signed up to the Government’s Safer Streets summer crackdown.

An increased police presence will be accompanied by stronger prevention and enforcement action by police, councils and other local partners.

Local Police and Crime Commissioners have developed bespoke local action plans with police, businesses, and local councils with the aim of supporting town centres to become vibrant places where people want to live, work and spend time.

These plans include increased visible town centre policing and ramping up the use of targeted enforcement powers against troublemakers – including banning perpetrators from hotspots.

Under the previous government, shoplifting soared to record levels, with a staggering 70 percent increase nationally in their last two years in office alone.

The blitz comes as part of the Labour Government’s Plan for Change, which will also put 13,000 more police personnel in neighbourhood roles over the course of this Parliament, backed by a £200m cash injection in the first year.

The summer initiative will also support young people, making sure there are activities across the 500 towns and cities for young people to be involved in throughout the holidays.

The Home Office, alongside police, retailers and industry are also launching a new Tackling Retail Crime Together Strategy, which will use shared data to assist in disrupting not just organised criminal gangs, but all types of perpetrators including prolific offenders who are stealing to fund an addiction and ‘opportunist’ offenders.