Levels of crime in Cumbria have “returned to normal” following a lull during the Covid-19 lockdown, which the county’s Police and Crime Commissioner says is placing pressure on the force.

Addressing Cumbria County Council’s Police and Crime Panel on Friday, Peter McCall outlined how the twin pressures of enforcing Covid-19 restrictions and responding to normalising crime rates have been exerted on the force in recent months following a relaxation of the Covid-19 lockdown.

He described the situation as a “double challenge for the constabulary”.

Mr McCall confirmed that, following a dip in crime during the height of the lockdown, Cumbria Police are once again contending with “effectively normal levels” of criminal behaviour once again.

“Crime has pretty much returned to normal levels, and antisocial behaviour, there is no question, has increased,” Mr McCall said.

Mr McCall added that he was not “for a second” suggesting that the force “can’t cope” with the challenges before it.

“But I am highlighting the point that they are incredibly busy, and have been for a sustained period of time,” he said.

“But they are more than coping, they’re doing very well.”

He added that the new legal lockdown measures introduced in Barrow will put “even more pressure” on Cumbria Police.

One positive fact Mr McCall highlighted was that Cumbria Constabulary has not “ not suffered significant numbers of illness amongst the workforce” during the pandemic.

“Police officers are not immune to catching Covid,” he said. “Of course, given the nature of their work, they’re often exposed in a way that many others aren’t.”

Mr McCall said that normalising crime rates across Cumbria could likely be explained by the fact that “people have been cooped up for months and months”.

“It is understandable to an extent why this is happening, but that of course is putting extra demand on the police,” he said.

“There’s an awful lot of fear, there’s an awful lot of frustration.”

He added that this has most likely been made worse by the fact that a lot of the “normal outlets for people”, such as concerts and football matches, have not been available.