Your neighbourhood policing team
Prior to joining Sussex Police in 2002, Steve was a Special Constable in Hampshire for two years. He began his Sussex career as a PC in Bognor Regis on Response, where he later became a Tutor. In 2004, his passion for developing others saw him become a full-time Tutor on a bespoke Tutor Unit. And in 2006, the Tutor Unit expanded and became the Professional Development Unit, which Steve helped set up for the Force.
In 2007, Steve spent a year leading the Professional Development Unit on West as an Acting Police Sergeant, until March 2008 when he left on promotion to Littlehampton Response. In August 2009, he joined Lancing Neighbourhood Policing team, where he remained until 2016. His next role saw him become the Licensing lead for West Sussex Division, which he left on promotion to Inspector in 2017.
His first Inspector post was at Crawley on Response, and in 2018, Steve returned to Arun as the Neighbourhood Policing Inspector. In 2020, he remained on the department but moved north to Crawley. In September 2024, Steve became an Acting Chief Inspector and was subsequently posted to the role of District Commander for both Crawley and Mid Sussex.
Alongside his role, Steve has other interests and skills including being the race engagement lead for West Sussex and the local lead for the first Clear, Hold, Build pilot within Sussex (at Crawley).
Outside of the police service, Steve is a father to his 11yr old daughter and owns a friendly, miniature Schnauzer. He holds a First-Degree Black belt in Karate and enjoys going to the gym in his spare time.
The Neighbourhood Sergeant provides frontline leadership to coordinate neighbourhood team activity, and works with the community, partners and other colleagues to deliver safer neighbourhoods.
This includes directing problem solving and engagement activity, and being responsive to community needs.
PCSOs provide a visible, accessible and approachable uniformed presence in the community, using designated powers where needed, deterring and preventing crime, and tackling antisocial behaviour.
They are problem solvers and work with partners, where needed, to address local issues.
Crimes and priorities
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Priority:
Action taken:
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Priority:
Overnight Shed Break Ins
Action taken:
Engagement with the local community to offer safeguarding and crime prevention advice continues both in person and online.
We continue to work with local organisations such as Neighbourhood Watch, who support us in providing their local schemes with burglary prevention advice and awareness.
In the event that a burglary has occurred, we conduct house to house and conduct CCTV and forensic opportunities where possible. Additional patrols are also directed to areas where burglaries occur.
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Priority:
Retail Crime
Action taken:
The Neighbourhood Policing Team will target persistent offenders and engage with partners and local businesses to offer support, conduct preventative work where appropriate and patrol areas of concern.
Our PCSO's visit local retailers offering advice on how to report retail crime which includes shoplifting and abuse towards staff and customers.
Additionally, we support 'Shop Kind' campaigns throughout the year, raising public awareness on retail crime.
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Priority:
Antisocial Behaviour including the use of Off-Road bikes in recreational grounds
Action taken:
Patrols will continue to tackle illegal use of dirt bikes. Ongoing work to increase awareness continues, with the powers to seize bikes being used and summonsing offenders to court.
High visibility patrols continue in areas affected by this.