Last updated at 14:02, Monday, 11 August 2008

Workington's Minto Centre is home to the CDRP. It is responsible for the management of Community Police initiatives across all of West Cumbria.

PC Graeme Hodkin,left, and Sergeant Richard Farnworth, with the Partnership Excellence 2007 awards.

The West Cumbria Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) exists to reduce crime and disorder in West Cumbria, by bringing together all of the organisations with an obligation and ability to do this. The Partnership is responsible for developing and implementing a strategy to reduce crime and disorder. 

The Partnerships role is based around five main themes. Task Groups, Violent Crime (including Domestic Violence), 
Anti-Social Behaviour, Prolific Offending, Drugs and Alcohol and Community Safety.

The Partnership is based at the Minto Centre in Westfield and has a varied role which covers the entire West Cumbria region. The team act as the central control point for schemes operating across the county.  The pubwatch schemes operating across Cumbria originated at the CDRP in Westfield and is administered by Lisa Elder.

The Partnership is well aware that the success of their initiatives depends on building partnerships with local organisations and tacking problems early.

PC Graeme Hodkin said, "Our aim is to prevent and deter crime. We have links with all of the agencies which are able to influence behaviour and help to solve problems before they become criminal matters. Intervention meetings for adults mean that we can involve homeless organisations, drug and alcohol organisations, Connexions, Local Authorities, Children's Services, psychologists when we are dealing with issues. We now have the ability to discuss problems and come up with the best solutions. Many crime and disorder issues can be solved at an early stage without prosecution by consulting with the right local agencies."

A close working relationship with schools by PCSO's, Pubwatch Schemes, Licensing Enforcement and any number of schemes all come under their remit and the work that the Workington team are doing has been recognised with an impressive collection of Awards.

Partnership Excellence Awards for 'Problem Solving', Business Against Crime', 'Most Effective Partnership' and 'Anti-Social behaviour' have all been earned by the team at Westfield together with the National Tilly Award.

First published at 12:02, Monday, 11 August 2008
Published by http://www.workingtonlocal.co.uk