Hastings

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District Commander's message: Chief Inspector Laurence Taylor

The summer is now over and the hour has come off. We're back to those dark evenings again!

It's been an eventful time in Hastings recently and I'd like to take this opportunity to highlight some of the events and successes we have had.

Firstly, many of you will have seen coverage in the local media that East Sussex division have undergone a restructure. The changes took place on the 27 September and largely effect the way in which we respond to calls and manage any subsequent enquiries. I firmly believe that the changes we have put in place will improve the service for residents in Hastings.

The changes are mainly focussed on our response teams (NRT) and the creation of a new Response Investigation Team (RIT). These, together with the CID are now based at "hubs" across the division. The hub for Hastings remains at the police station and all the resources I have described above are based there. The changes have created capacity for the NRT to focus on responding to incidents and providing a quality service and initial investigation. The RIT and CID are focused on the follow up investigation and ensuring that crimes are investigated efficiently and effectively. This will also mean we can focus on providing victims, witnesses and those who live in, work in or visit Hastings a first class service.

It is also important to stress that your Neighbourhood Policing Teams have not been changed in any way. Your local officers and PCSOs remain in their communities working to resolve those problems that really matter to you. I hope to build on this in the future and develop partnerships and our work with communities to make Hastings an even safer place. If you want to speak to one of your local officers or find out when they are holding meetings in your area please go to sussex.police.uk and follow the links to your area.

The Neighbourhood Teams have demonstrated this commitment with some excellent successes recently. Operation Haytown was an operation targeting the illegal trading of cigarettes. One man was arrested on suspicion of selling counterfeit goods and five other men on suspicion of copyright offences following the execution of five evidential warrants for selling counterfeit tobacco. Around 50 police officers along with ten Trading Standards officers visited four commercial premises and one residential address. As well as the arrests of the six men, all local and aged between 23 and 33, £10,000 worth of counterfeit cigarettes were confiscated and two properties were closed by East Sussex Fire and Rescue for not meeting fire safety standards. This was an excellent example of working with other agencies to bring about great results.

We are also looking at new and innovative ways to make a difference. A performing arts group set up to help Hastings teenagers was given a boost by the Hastings town centre PCSOs. 'Moving Stages' was set up by locals Mel Wright and Sam Gene Rawlinson after listening to groups of young people in the town who felt that they had no confidence after being rejected or knocked back in their lives.

PCSO Lucy Paffett, from the town centre Community team, heard about the project and, after talking to Sam and Mel, offered to help with the costs of renting space for the group to meet and perform, to get them off the ground. An application was made to the Police Property Act fund. The fund redirects the proceeds of crime, seized by police from criminals, to good causes in the community, and on this occasion a grant of £350 was approved.

Finally I'd like to draw your attention to a new contact number for Sussex Police. The old 0845 number has been replaced by the easy to remember "101". Please use this number to contact us but please remember to continue to use 999 in an emergency.

I want to hear from you so that I can understand your experiences of policing in Hastings and to get your views on how we can improve our service. Please contact me at Laurence.taylor@sussex.pnn.police.uk if you would like to make comment on any aspect of our work or, alternatively, you can follow me on Twitter @Dcinsptaylor.

Kind regards

Chief Inspector Laurence Taylor

District Commander