CUMBRIA Constabulary's crime data integrity has been graded 'outstanding' in a national report.

It was one of only two forces - out of the 34 looked at - to achieve this in the inspection by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS).

Mark Webster, Deputy Chief Constable of Cumbria Constabulary, said: "We are delighted that the Constabulary has been recognised by HMICFRS as 'outstanding' for the way we record crime accurately.

"In recent years there have been many changes to how crime is recorded and it is a great achievement to be one of only two forces that received this grading."

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He added: "At the heart of our crime-recording processes is the emphasis we place on victims so they can be confident that their report will be taken seriously, our safeguarding measures can be put in place, and they can receive support.

"The early identification of victims is also crucial to us being able to pursue offenders. To be independently assessed as 'outstanding' provides further confidence in our police force to those who live, work and visit Cumbria.

“The demands police forces face has changed dramatically in recent years with crime becoming increasingly more complex to deal with. We have a proven track record of dealing with complex crime as evidenced recently in an operation that led to eight offenders being jailed for 40 years collectively for their roles in conspiring to commit ATM attacks across North and West Cumbria."

Peter McCall, Cumbria's Police and Crime Commissioner, said: "I hope that everyone in Cumbria will wish to join me in publicly congratulating the Chief Constable, our police officers, PCSOs [Police Community Support Officers], staff and volunteers for the exceptional work they do every day, often in the most challenging circumstances, to make Cumbria one of the safest counties in the country."