The impact of a community beat officer in Keswick has been praised.
PC Don MacKenzie started in Keswick on 23rd May 2023 and a corresponding fall in crime during his first six months has been hailed in a press release.
It reports that “overall crime” in Keswick is down 17 per cent in that period with anti-social behaviour having reduced by 12.5 per cent and burglary dropped by 33 per cent.
The press release, circulated by the Office of Cumbria’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, told how Mike Johnson, deputy police, fire and crime commissioner for Cumbria, recently toured Keswick with PC MacKenzie, with a photo of the pair on the beat.
Mr Johnson, the newly-unveiled Conservative candidate for the top job at the election in May, was quoted as saying: “Community beat officers are part of the Neighbourhood Policing Team and provide a consistent presence in our local towns and villages, such as Keswick. The success of community beat officers, such as PC Don Mackenzie in Keswick, speaks for itself.”
Inspector Pete Aiston, of Cumbria Police added: “The introduction of a dedicated community beat officer (CBO) in Keswick has been very successful.
“Working closely with the dedicated PCSO, PC Mackenzie has engaged with the community, local businesses and the town council to find out what issues are affecting them.
“Our officers use a problem-solving approach to tackle local issues, and regularly work alongside schools when dealing with youth related crime or anti-social behaviour.”
PC Mackenzie was applauded for being “instrumental” in setting up the new Shopwatch initiative to stop shoplifters.
Peter Allen, Labour’s candidate for the PFCC election, said: “The return of community based policing to Keswick after 14 years of austerity and cuts is to be applauded. Of course it works, I know this having been a cop for 30 years!
“This is why it is a central part of Labour and my plan to invest and to return visible policing to the streets of Cumbria and to put named officers into every electoral ward.”
