POLICE say they "will not tolerate anti-social behaviour (ASB) in our communities" as youths congregating in a Maryport play park subject a worker to verbal abuse.
Maryport Town Council has worked with Maryport Aquarium, operators of Shiver Me Timbers to keep the play park open for an extra hour during the summer holidays.
But the council has since heard that a member of aquarium staff responsible for locking-up the park at 6pm "has been made to feel threatened and was verbally abused by a group of around 10 young teens/youths."
The ASB has occurred on more than one occasion over the past week.
Town council spokesperson said: "This is not acceptable, the minority should not spoil it for the majority."
They reported that Cumbria Police will be looking over the CCTV later today "and if the youths are identified the parents will be contacted."
Sergeant Neil McKinnell said that Cumbria Police "will not tolerate anti-social behaviour in our communities."
He confirmed that officers "are working proactively to identify those responsible and take appropriate action, and we would urge anyone who sees anti-social behaviour to report it to us providing as much detail as possible."
Cumbria Constabulary recorded 25 instances of youth ASB related to the environment in the 2025/26 financial year, a reduction of 26.5 per cent.
Nuisance ASB perpetrated by young people fell by 19.4 per cent in 2025/26 compared to 2024/25.
ASB perpetrated by young people against a person fell by 30.8 per cent in 2025/26 compared to the previous financial year.
Data was revealed in Cumbria Constabulary's 2025/26 end of year performance report, presented to Cumbria's Police Fire and Crime Commissioner in June.
Policing figures said that the reductions demonstrate the effectiveness of Operation Enhance, a policing initiative targeting anti-social behaviour hotspots with increased high-visibility patrols.
The initial two-year operation, funded by the Government, concluded in April, but since then, police chiefs have incorporated its principles into standard practice.
Deputy Chief Constable Johnny Blackwell said in June: "In terms of the neighbourhood policing, across the county, it's well-established, it's that increase in terms of police officers, Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) and the wider neighbourhood teams."
In addition to Op Enhance-style patrols, Cumbria Constabulary funded additional patrols for June, July and August when officers typically see a rise in ASB.
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