Police and council fund gate to combat Brighton city centre crime

Chief Inspector Andy Saville, Chris and Hughie O'Neill, Councillor Alex Phillips, Gerda Ragacidvaire and PCSO Monty Biswas (Credit: The Argus)

 

Sussex Police has helped fund the installation of a new gate in Brighton city centre to protect an alleyway subjected to crime and anti-social behaviour.

Pool Passage has had a lockable gate installed and is now the subject of a Public Spaces Protection Order, aimed at anti-social behaviour perpetrators.

It has been funded through £600 from Sussex Police’s Police Property Act Fund, in addition to £1,500 from Brighton and Hove City Council.

Police have investigated a number of reports from Pool Passage residents relating to criminal behaviour over the last few years.

Patrols have been increased in the area, alongside long-term partnership solutions applicable across the city, such as extra street lighting, CCTV and extra street cleaning.

Chief Inspector Andy Saville, who met residents to present a cheque, said: “Residents of Pool Passage have been subjected to a number of incidents over an extended period of time and we recognise the impact they have not only on their lives, but on the wider community.

“We have been in regular contact with the residents and have been working with our community partners to find the most appropriate solutions.

“This joint funding of a gate to protect the residents is a perfect example of the partnership problem solving approach that is vital when addressing community issues in our city.

“I would like to commend our two ward PCSOs for this area – PCSO Monty Biswas and PCSO Caroline Batchelor – who have worked so hard with the residents and our partners to find a solution to these issues.

“I would also like to thank the residents of Pool Passage, who took the time to report their concerns which in turn allowed us to identify there was a problem and put the right measures in place.

“Please report any issues to police online, via 101 or by calling 999 in an emergency.”

Pool Passage resident Hughie O’Neill worked closely with officers and the council to get the gate installed. He said “Ever since we have had the problem over the last three years, the people that have consistently helped us are the police. If it wasn’t for the police, we wouldn’t have been able to do this.

“We used to have four to five events a day, but since the gate came in we haven’t had any.

“Along with the extra patrols, the police have been brilliant.”

Councillor Steph Powell, Co-chair of Brighton & Hove City Council’s Tourism, Equalities, Communities & Culture committee said: “I’m happy we’ve been able to work with residents and our partners at Sussex Police to bring in new measures to tackle the anti-social behaviour impacting the community over recent years.

“The Public Spaces Protection Order we’ve set up allows a night time gating scheme for the twitten, which will greatly increase the safety and security for residents of Pool Passage.”

This donation has been made from Sussex Police’s Police Property Act Fund (PPAF), which supports local charitable and community organisations carrying out projects in Sussex.

The PPAF is funded through Sussex Police Auctions’ eBay account, which sells lost and seized items, as well as police items that are no longer required, such as IT equipment and office furniture. Funds are also raised through the forfeiture and seizure of criminal assets.