Sussex Police news feed

Quality Streets is coming to St Leonards

2012-05-16T17:20:56Z

Quality Streets is coming to Warrior Square Gardens.

The Safer Hastings Partnership will be holding a Quality Streets event inWarriorSquareGardens, St Leonards, next week.

A survey was carried out in the area couple of weeks ago to find out if residents have any concerns regarding crime or anti-social behaviour. Following this, a multi-agency meeting was held to plan activity to address these concerns.

Representatives from Sussex Police, Hastings Borough Council, East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, NHS, Trading Standards and other agencies will be in Warrior Square Gardens on Thursday 24 May from 3pm to 6pm to talk to residents about what will be done to tackle the issues they have raised and offer support and advice.

For children there will be a variety of sports arranged by Active Streetgames and a selection of creepy crawlies to learn about from the interactive Animals in Action learning experience. A fire engine and police vehicle will also be parked up in the gardens for children to explore.

Teenager charged with burglary in Eastbourne

2012-05-16T16:58:47Z

A teenager was arrested and charged with burglary in Eastbourne thanks to a vigilant member of the public.

Police were called to an address in Castle Bolton, Stone Cross, yesterday (Tuesday 15 May) at 11.50am after a resident noticed some suspicious activity involving a male.

A description was passed to officers who started searching. Thanks to local knowledge, police officers were able to identify the male and attended an address where he was located and a stolen laptop was retrieved.

Wealden District Commander Chief Inspector Dick Coates said: "We have seen a significant rise in burglaries recently not only across Wealden but also across East Sussex. However with the excellent work of my officers we have made a number of arrests which has meant we have seen a sharp reduction since the beginning of May.

"My message to anyone considering committing an offence on Wealden is, we will target you, and we will catch you. I would like to thank all members of the public that call in when seeing suspicious behaviour, because it is your help and vigilance that continues to make Wealden one of the safest places to live."

A 16-year-old boy from Eastbourne has been charged with burglary and was due to appear at Eastbourne Magistrates Court today (Wednesday 16 May).

Crowborough Police help fund theatre performance

2012-05-16T14:25:59Z

Crowborough Police has donated £200 to Uckfield Theatre Guild to fund the running costs of the matinee performance which was adapted for audiences with specific needs.

The donation comes from the Police Property Act Fund (PPAF), made up of monies received by the police from property confiscated by order of the court and then sold.

PCSO Christine Cooley said: "It was a tremendous privilege to be able to help in donating this money for a worthy cause."

Early morning Brighton street robbery

2012-05-16T14:17:00Z

A man on his way to work was attacked and robbed in Brighton on Wednesday morning (May 16).

The victim, in his mid-20s, was walking in Church Street near to the junction with St Nicholas Road at 6.40am when he was stopped and asked for the time. The suspect then punched him to the floor and tried to steal his phone, before grabbing and running off with his bag, which he dropped a short distance away.

He is described as white with tanned skin, 19-22, of slim build with short hair shaved at the sides and longer on top. He was wearing a black hooded top and a red shirt.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or who may have seen the suspect in the area around the time is asked to call Sussex Police on 101 quoting serial 161 of 16/05.

Witness to Coldean store incident comes forward

2012-05-16T13:38:23Z

A witness to an incident who police in Brighton were trying to trace has come forward as a result of publicity.

Police yesterday published a CCTV image of the man following an incident in a Coldean shop. A 38-year old local man was arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated assault after a dispute at the One Stop shop in Park Road, Coldean, Brighton, at 12.30pm on Sunday 22 April. Police were called after an argument had taken place between the shopkeeper and a man who had entered the store. The man left in car before police arrived but officers went to nearby address shortly afterwards and made the arrest. He was later released on police bail until 14 June while enquiries continue.

Police are investigating the possibility that the incident related to a previous incident involving the suspect's teenage daughter in the store a few minutes beforehand. There was no reported injury to anyone and nothing was stolen, in either incident.

The man saw the published photo and came forward to police this morning, Wednesday 16 May.

Detective Constable Aran Boyt said; "We would like to emphasise that this man was in no way connected with either incident - he was simply a bystander in the shop, and we are grateful to him for coming forward, and to media who publicised his image. Our enquiries are continuing."

Criminal profits stripped from Hastings drug dealers

2012-05-16T12:55:41Z

Two Hastings men have now been stripped of criminal profits following their convictions for conspiracy to supply cocaine

Brett Moor, 33, of St Helens Road, and Peter Booth, 39, ofSeaside Road,were jailed last year having admitted to dealing cocaine.

Police had kept observation at Lower Wiltings Farm, St Leonards, whereMoorhad rented a space in which the drugs were stored and prepared to be sold on the streets ofHastings. Booth had posed as a nursing home worker to buy homeopathic remedies in bulk to act as a cutting agent. Fingerprints andDNAevidence linked the pair to the drugs. Police seized 1.6 kilos of the Class A drug.and the men were convicted at Lewes Crown Court in January 2011 and sentenced to five and four years imprisonment respectively.

Both men appeared at Lewes Crown Court at a Proceeds of Crime hearing on Thursday 10 May this year. A Sussex Police financial investigator had discovered that Moor had criminally benefited to the value of £200,000 and Booth to the value of £59,000. Despite their efforts to frustrate the confiscation process, identified assets of £35,000 were ordered to be re-paid by Moor and £1,080 from Booth. Judge Niblett praised the Sussex Police financial investigator for her efforts in finalising the Orders.

Moor has six months to pay or would face a further 12 months prison sentence. Booth has three months to pay and would face a further 21-day sentence in default. Both would still be liable to pay even after that.

Detective Sergeant Mick Richards of the Sussex Police Money Laundering Team said "We are pleased that this process has now been concluded. The debt will remain with Moor & Booth until paid in full. Despite their best efforts to disguise their assets, our investigations confirmed that they profited from their criminality and identified substantial assets that will now have to be re-paid."

The money is now confiscated by the courts and goes to the central Government exchequer, but 50% of it then comes back to law enforcement. Of that 50%, one third goes to the Crown Prosecution Service, one third to HM Courts System and one third to police. The money that comes back to Sussex Police is used to help support the work of the force's financial investigators, to fund searches on national commercial and statutory databases, for example the Land Registry and Companies House, and as donations to local Sussex-based crime reduction and diversion projects.

Please also note that the current occupiers of the farm have no connection with this case.

Appeal for witnesses after robbery at Hove store

2012-05-16T09:38:12Z

Police are appealing for witnesses following a robbery at a Hove convenience store.

At around 9.50pm on Friday 11 May a man entered Boeds on the corner of Westbourne Street and Coleridge Street and demanded money from the member of staff.

The victim handed over money from the till to the offender, who then ran out of the shop.

The offender is described as white, between 6' and 6'2'', aged between 25 to 30-years-old, of slim build and clean shaven with acne scars on his cheeks. He was wearing a white hooded top / jacket possibly with a faint grey camouflage print or similar, a pair of wrap around sunglasses in black, black gloves, black trainers and black trousers or tracksuit bottoms. He was carrying a knife.

Detective Constable Karen Woodhams of Brighton and Hove CID said: "Although this incident only lasted less than a minute it was a very frightening incident for the victim and thankfully no-one was injured.

"We are keen to hear from anyone who saw a man acting suspiciously in the area before or after the incident or anyone with information which may assist us with our enquiries."

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Sussex Police on 101 quoting serial 1841 of 11/5 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Series of street meetings to be held in Hastings

2012-05-16T09:34:59Z

Hastings Police will be holding a series of street meetings in the coming weeks.

A street meeting will be held at the junction with Godwin Road and Edwin Road between 7pm and 7.30pm on Monday, 21 May.

PCSO Lisa Lavender said: "This is a brilliant opportunity to discuss any problems you may be experiencing in your local area."

A street meeting will be held in Burry Road, St Leonards between 7pm and 8pm on Monday, 21 May.

PCSO Sarah O'Hara said: "Meet me in person where I will be pleased to discuss any problems arising within the Silverhill community."

A street meeting will be held in Earl Street between 6pm and 6.30pm on Tuesday, 29 May.

PC Debbie Heneke said: "Representatives from the police and council will be there to assist you with any concerns you may have."

A street meeting will be held at the junction of Baldslow Road and Laton Road at 6pm on Wednesday, 30 May for residents of Braybrooke ward.

At all of the street meetings local residents and business owners will have the opportunity to discuss their concerns or any issues they may have with officers from the Hastings neighbourhood policing team.

To find out more about Hastings Police visit our website www.sussex.police.uk/your-neighbourhood/your-district/hastings

Appeal for witnesses to attempted burglary in Bexhill

2012-05-16T09:21:21Z

Police are appealing for witnesses to an attempted burglary at a property in Uplands Close, Bexhill, which is thought to have happened at around 5.55am on Sunday (13 May).

The owner of the property last checked the house on Monday 7 May. When they returned, at 4pm on Sunday 13 May, it was found that an attempt to gain entry to the property had been made and damage in excess of £600 to a rear door had occurred. A neighbour witnessed a man at 5.54am on Sunday morning jump over the wall of the property.

There is believed to be one suspect.

The suspect is described as 5' 9" in height, of medium build and said to walk off 'with a swagger', in a 'cocky' way. He was wearing black clothing, a black rucksack and black cap. The witness was unable to see the age or ethnicity of the man in question.

Any witness or anyone with information is asked to call Sussex Police on 101 quoting serial 1141 of 13/5. Alternatively, call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Operation in Bexhill leads to shop lifter sentenced

2012-05-16T09:16:48Z

Jason Nicholls, 40, appeared at Hastings Magistrates' Court on Tuesday 15 May after being convicted of theft by shoplifting.

On Monday 14 May plain clothed police officers from policing teams across Rother District conducted an operation in Ravenside Retail Park, Bexhill, to target shoplifters who have recently been targeting Bexhill.

Nicholls was witnessed by the officers acting suspiciously leaving the Tesco store in Ravenside and arrested under suspicion of theft by shoplifting, a search revealed that Nicholls had stolen meat and concealed it upon himself.

Nicholls, of Rock Close, Hastings, was sentenced to six weeks imprisonment, suspended for nine months after admitting the offence.

Sergeant Dan Russell of Rother Neighbourhood Policing Team said: "I am glad that we were able to catch another shoplifter red-handed in Bexhill. Operations like this will continue over the next few months with the hope to continue to catch those involved in theft."