Time and time again, residents tell me that road safety and the anti-social use of vehicles are among their biggest concerns.
Whether it’s dangerous driving, cars speeding through residential streets, off-road bikes, or uninsured vehicles being used irresponsibly, people want to feel safe in their communities — and they want to see action.
That’s why we've launched Operation Colossus in Whitehaven earlier this week.
This is a high-visibility policing operation designed to tackle the issues local people have raised with me directly.
In just the first few days, two drivers have been arrested for drug driving and are now in custody.
Another vehicle has been seized for having no insurance.
Officers have been out in force carrying out speed checks, stop checks, and increased patrols across the area.
Operation Colossus isn’t a one-off.
It marks the start of 15 weeks of sustained action across Cumbria and beyond.
It also forms part of the wider Operation Enhance initiative, our commitment to visible, neighbourhood-focused policing — and it ties in with our Safer Summer Cumbria campaign to keep communities safe and confident during the summer months.
This isn’t just about enforcement. It’s about listening.
Everything we’re doing under Operation Colossus comes directly from what residents have told us: that they want to see more action on illegal and anti-social driving.
My role as Commissioner is to make sure those concerns aren’t just heard, but acted on — and this is a clear example of that happening.
Over the coming weeks, you’ll see more officers, more checks, and more results.
We’ll be working with communities to identify hotspots, seize illegal vehicles, and hold offenders to account.
It’s about making our streets safer — not just through enforcement, but by showing people that they’re being listened to.
I’ll continue working closely with Cumbria Police to support and expand this approach, ensuring that every part of our county sees meaningful, community-driven policing.
If you’ve got concerns in your area, please keep speaking up.
Together, we can make a real difference.
David Allen
Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Cumbria
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