Cumbria Constabulary
North West · Territorial force · 1,200 officers
Key Statistics
Officers
1,200
Staff
550
Area (sq miles)
2,613
Population served
500,000
About Cumbria Constabulary
Covering the Lake District, Carlisle and Barrow-in-Furness. One of the most rural forces with stunning landscapes. Ideal for officers seeking outdoor living, though specialist roles are limited.
Cumbria Constabulary serves the North West of England, focusing primarily on the rural and picturesque areas including the Lake District, Carlisle, and Barrow-in-Furness. This police force is one of the most rural in the UK, allowing officers the chance to immerse themselves in the stunning natural landscape. The jurisdiction is marked by unique operational challenges, including its proximity to the borders with Scotland and the presence of popular tourist sites that increase seasonal demands on policing. Notably, the force has a significant operational focus on rural crime, given the area's agricultural context and low population density.
Cumbria Constabulary also boasts a number of specialist teams that can be attractive for prospective officers. These include a dedicated Cyber Crime Unit, which addresses the rising threats in digital security, and an Armed Response Unit, allowing for a range of response capabilities in critical situations. Furthermore, the force operates a significant Crime Scene Investigation team which plays a vital role in maintaining public safety and criminal investigations.
Current priority areas for Cumbria Constabulary include tackling rural crime, child safeguarding, and promoting community safety initiatives. The force actively engages with local communities to strengthen relationships and foster trust, while also focusing on effective collaborative operations with neighbouring police forces.
Current priorities
- Tackling rural crime
- Child safeguarding
- Promoting community safety initiatives
Notable specialisms
Source: About Cumbria Constabulary. Summary fetched 2026-07-05.
Public-data snapshot
Workforce
Officers
1,200
Staff
550
Total headcount
1,750
Source: Home Office Police Workforce Statistics as of 31 March 2025 · OGL v3
HMICFRS PEEL rating
good
Inspection cycle: 2023-2025
Source: HMICFRS PEEL assessments · Open Government Licence v3.0
In recent oversight reports
Cumbria Constabulary is named in 1 recent IOPC investigation outcome or HMICFRS thematic report.
Terms of reference: Home Secretary’s commission for a thematic inspection of the handling of misconduct in fire and rescue services
2023-07-19 · HMICFRS
From data.police.uk
data.police.uk covers England, Wales & Northern Ireland; not Police Scotland.
Stop and search
Latest available month: 2026-08. 537 recorded stop-and-search records that month. Officer-defined ethnicity was recorded on 92.9% of records.
By object of search (2026-08)
| Controlled drugs | 426 |
| (not recorded) | 38 |
| Offensive weapons | 37 |
| Article for use in theft | 33 |
| Evidence of wildlife offences | 3 |
By outcome (2026-08)
| A no further action disposal | 353 |
| Arrest | 108 |
| Community resolution | 36 |
| (not recorded) | 32 |
| Summons / charged by post | 5 |
| Caution (simple or conditional) | 3 |
Source: data.police.uk · Open Government Licence v3.0
Recorded crime by category
3,583 crimes recorded by Cumbria Constabulary in 2026-08 (latest published month), by category. Counted from the published street-level archive; England, Wales & Northern Ireland only.
| Crime type (2026-08) | Recorded |
|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 1,666 |
| Public order | 378 |
| Criminal damage and arson | 329 |
| Shoplifting | 221 |
| Anti-social behaviour | 210 |
| Other theft | 194 |
| Drugs | 162 |
| Burglary | 118 |
| Vehicle crime | 117 |
| Other crime | 76 |
| Possession of weapons | 58 |
| Bicycle theft | 30 |
| Robbery | 12 |
| Theft from the person | 12 |
| Total | 3,583 |
Source: data.police.uk street-level archive · Open Government Licence v3.0
Deaths during or following police contact
IOPC-recorded fatalities involving Cumbria Constabulary over 2004/05 to 2024/25 (2024/25 in brackets). These use the IOPC’s five categories, which have different definitions and are not additive. Figures count incidents the IOPC attributed to Cumbria Constabulary; see the national page for how multi-force incidents are handled.
Recruitment
How to join Cumbria Constabulary
Application stages, entry routes, fitness and vetting requirements.