Geography of Cumbria not accounted for in new figures

26 August 2025

New figures showing that Cumbria has one of the highest levels of officers-to-population are misleading based of the real experience of police in the county.

Data from Policing Insight shows Cumbria has 270 officers per 100,000 population – the fourth highest in England and Wales.

But Cumbria Police Federation Chair Ed Russell says that doesn’t show the whole picture – with officers routinely having their shifts cancelled and many suffering from burnout.

He said: “Cumbria is one of the largest counties in the country, and with a large geography comes the need to spread out resources to ensure we can provide a service to the public.

“However, to consider 270 officers per 100,000 population is misleading if taken out of context. Police numbers in England and Wales are nowhere near what they should be to provide an appropriate level of service.

“Officers on the ground certainly wouldn’t say they are overstaffed. Officers in Cumbria continue to routinely have their shifts cancelled or changed at short notice to make up for low staffing levels.

“Our sickness levels due to mental health conditions associated with burnout remain worryingly high, and our attrition rates are well above the national average due to officers leaving for other opportunities or sometimes even without jobs to go to.

“Cumbria is home to some of the most breathtaking scenery in England. As a result, our population swells by millions throughout the year against a settled population of only around 500,000.

“This is perhaps our greatest challenge as a police force, as we have an extra 40 million plus people visiting our county – second only to London in terms of tourist numbers.”