A Police team from Wales has visited Cumberland to learn from the success of Local Focus Hubs.
Jessica Thomas (Partnerships Co-ordinator), PC John Rankin-Hill (Force Problem-solving Lead) and PCSO Johanna Kelham (Force ASB Lead) from Dyfed-Powys Police visited last week to see first-hand how the hubs tackle antisocial behaviour – and whether the model could be replicated in their own force.
The officers spent two days with Cumberland Local Focus Hub Managers Emma Thompson and Louise Coid, Inspector Pete Aiston of Cumbria Constabulary, and other hub members, to see the partnership approach to antisocial behaviour.
Cllr Lisa Brown, Cumberland Council Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Adults and Community Health, said:
“Dyfed-Powys are interested in new approaches to antisocial behaviour, and our successful hubs in Copeland, Allerdale and Carlisle are a great model for collaborative action. They have led to early intervention and effective solutions –- directly improving the lives of our residents.”
Each hub is led jointly by the council and the police.
The Copeland area was the first in Cumbria to set up a Local Focus Hub, in 2016. It brought together the council, police, housing providers, mental health staff, addiction services, and other third sector organisations. Referrals to any of these can be brought to the hubs for a holistic approach to the problem.
The innovative pilot scheme has since been rolled out to Allerdale and Carlisle.
Jessica Thomas said:
“Our thanks go to the Cumberland hubs team. They clearly demonstrated what successful partnership working can achieve, and how it positively impacts communities. We gained valuable insight into accessible shared spaces, systems and referral mechanisms.
“The positive relationships fostered by the hubs provide meaningful community engagement activities, shared skills and knowledge, and opportunities to pool resources. Our visit was hugely beneficial and we are discussing plans to replicate Cumberland’s model and ethos in Wales.”
Inspector Pete Aiston, Allerdale Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “We welcomed Dyfed-Powys police officers joining us and partners to discuss the successes we have had with the Local Focus Hubs in tackling anti-social behaviour and other issues.
“They recognised our successes with partnership working which sees issues targeted by multiple partner agencies via referral into the Local Focus Hubs.”
“This has been identified as best practice and shows the value of working together to keep people safe”
Cllr Brown added: “We are immensely proud we were one of the first councils to pilot the Local Focus Hubs, and the key has been partnership working. Agencies had always worked really hard to tackle antisocial behaviour, but they were working in isolation. This model speeds up and streamlines the process, ensuring multiple solutions are considered.
“This is particularly effective for antisocial behaviour, which doesn’t always have one clear cause, or a solution that one agency can implement alone. It’s great to see other areas considering Hubs, and I hope the Dyfed-Powys team were able to take back some good ideas.”
As well as tackling antisocial behaviour, the Local Focus Hubs can signpost to other agencies for further support, and now organise events to foster community cohesion – such as the Operation Respect events across the area each summer.
Image credit: Cumberland Council
