FREE rape alarms were issued to 200 women in Barrow following four indecent assaults on women walking home in the town during the last month.

The police initiative is part of Operation Regulate, which was launched in October last year, to reduce the number of incidents of violence and disorder in the town.

The operation is already proving successful as new figures show incidents of violent crime have fallen by 24 per cent compared to this time last year.

Police are also increasing patrols on routes used by people returning home from a night out as part of the scheme.