Neighbourhood Policing Team Updates – Millom & South Copeland – February 2026
A welcome from Inspector Hird
Welcome to the February edition of your Neighbourhood Policing Newsletter.
Our team continue to work hard to keep our community safe, connected, and informed.
Over the last month we have targeted your area priorities from anti-social behaviour to driving offences.
If you have any concerns or issues you can report them to us online – Report | Cumbria Police or on 101.
You can find out your local area priorities and who your local officers are here – Copeland | Cumbria Police select ‘Your area’, then ‘On the team’.
Inspector Mike Hird – Copeland Neighbourhood Policing Team
Essential News and Updates
You may recall a while ago we told you about a man who led your Millom Community Beat Officers on a 10 minute pursuit through the Whicham Valley.
The man was arrested at the scene, after crashing his vehicle into a wall and trying to outrun officers.
Kai Scudamore, aged 19 of Millom was charged with a number of Road Traffic Act Offences, including fail to stop for police, dangerous driving, driving otherwise in accordance with a license and no insurance.
Scudamore was in court on 26 February and received a 12 month suspended sentence, an obligatory three year driving disqualification and a number of costs and fines.
Your Neighbourhood Policing Team urge eagle eyed members of the public to report any road safety concerns they may have.
Dangerous and disqualified drivers pose a significant risk to law abiding road users and we need your help to target them effectively.
You can report using 101, or anonymously to Crimestoppers using 0800 555 111, always use 999 in an emergency.
PCSO visits infant school
On 25 February, PCSO Claire Lillico, had the pleasure of meeting class 1 from Millom Infant School.
We talked about how the police help us.
There was some very excited children.
All engaged very well and had lots of questions to ask, and she was even asked to go back by the children.
Young people educate PCSO on Millom landmarks
On 22 February, PCSO Claire Lillico was out on foot patrol in Millom.
While out she was met by a group of young lads who offered to show her where the white caves were.
Along the way she was given a history lesson on some of the known landmarks.
Some great topics were also discussed, with education well received.
Parking safety at schools
Parents, please continue to keep school Zig Zags clear.
They are there for the safety of your children, allowing for a clear crossing area & improving visibility for both drivers and pedestrian’s.
Keep up the good parking and working together for everyone’s safety.
Cumbria United Against Suicide
What is Cumbria United Against Suicide? Its a county-wide project uniting sports clubs, coaches, and athletes from all sports to take a stand against suicide.
Developed by Every Life Matters, in partnership with Cumberland Council, Active Cumbria, and TDA (The Decommissioning Alliance), the campaign uses the power of sport — teamwork, community, and solidarity — to reduce the stigma around suicide and open up life-saving conversations.
Read more here – Cumbria United – Every Life Matters
Cumbria Police ranked top force nationally by public in latest Crime Survey
Cumbria Police has been ranked the top force in England and Wales when people were asked about their overall confidence in policing.
The constabulary was also placed number one in a range of other categories in a national survey asking residents about their views on crime. Read more here – Cumbria Police ranked top force nationally by public in latest Crime Survey – Cumbria Constabulary
Police seize more than £14m of drugs in year-long crackdown on organised crime
Police took more than £14m of drugs off the streets of Cumbria last year under a forcewide crackdown on serious and organised crime.
Officers seizing high-harm substances including heroin, cocaine and amphetamine – and shut down a number of industrial-sized cannabis farms.
Operation Merlin: More than 50 arrests as wanted people targeted across Cumbria
A two-week operation targeting wanted individuals – including people sought for burglary, sexual offences, serious assaults, recall to prison and failing to attend court – resulted in more than 50 arrests.
Operation Merlin is Cumbria Constabulary’s on-going operation seeking out wanted individuals, including through the execution of warrants at addresses.
The most recent operation ran from 2 February 2026 to 13 February 2026.
Our Priorities – You said, we did
Officers continue to tackle anti-social behaviour in Copeland
Officers continued to tackle anti-social behaviour (ASB) in Copeland as part of Operation Enhance.
Between 1 August 2025 and 31 January 2026, ASB across all 15 hotspots in the county dropped by 21.4%. In the three Copeland hotspots (Flatts Walk, Whitehaven, Whitehaven Town Centre and Cleator Moor) ASB dropped by 23.9%.
Operation Enhance means that Officers can respond to issues quickly. During a patrol in Cleator Moor, an Officer spotted a male that was wanted by the Police, after back-up arrive, the male was arrested. To see more about the positive work of Officers, follow the Copeland Police Facebook page to watch our patrol videos.
The extra patrols are also having a positive effect on other crime types. Across the 15 hotspots, shoplifting has reduced by 12.8%. In the Copeland hotspots, this has fallen by 51.3% with 20 less reports of shoplifting compared to the same period in 2024/25.
The Operation has been made possible thanks to £1 million of extra funding secured by David Allen, Cumbria’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner from the Government’s Hotspot Response Fund.
As part of the operation, the public is encouraged to report anti-social behaviour by visiting the constabulary’s website https://orlo.uk/gKvGc or our non-emergency number 101. In an emergency always call 999. Information and intelligence from the public is vital so we can work together to tackle issues in their communities.
Find out more about Operation Enhance: https://orlo.uk/ec9p7
Upcoming community police events
- Millom Network Centre
Wed 04 March 2026
11:00AM – 12:00PM - Millom Network Centre
Wed 01 April 2026
11:00AM – 12:00PM
For more information, please visit our website and enter your postcode in the Your Area section.
Your local officers
Not only will you be able to find out who your named local officers and PCSOs are, you will also be able to view our local policing priorities and details of any meetings or events we will be attending.
Crime Figures
Further information can be found on Police.uk
| Offence Class | Current Period | Previous Period | Change | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arson and Criminal Damage | 1 | 2 | -1 | -50.0% |
| Drug Offences | 2 | 3 | -1 | -33.3% |
| Miscellaneous Crimes Against Society | 2 | 2 | 0.0% | |
| Public Order Offences | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Sexual Offences | 1 | 2 | -1 | -50.0% |
| Theft | 4 | -4 | -100.0% | |
| Vehicle Offences | 2 | 3 | -1 | -33.3% |
| Violence Against the Person | 18 | 10 | 8 | 80.0% |
| Total | 29 | 27 | 2 | 7.4% |
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To be eligible to apply, you will need to have taken a three-year BSc professional policing programme offered by universities that are licensed and validated to deliver the degree by the College of Policing. For more information about the entry route and the role visit: Job profile
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Our Detective entry programme (PCEP DC) is open for applications. The two year programme is designed to equip you with all the skills and training necessary to ensure that on completion you will be a highly competent detective constable.
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