Protecting our communities during Neighbourhood Policing week of action

Sussex Police has joined services across the country for a celebration of its neighbourhood policing teams.

Starting on 23 January, a national Neighbourhood Policing Week of Action shone a spotlight on the work carried out every day of the year in our communities.

Officers, staff and volunteers from all over Sussex were out engaging with residents, schools and businesses to get to the heart of the issues impacting their neighbourhoods.

That local knowledge allows our neighbourhood teams to take a problem solving approach, working with community partners to put the most effective measures in place.

Where community issues cannot be solved through engagement and support, enforcement action will be taken to disrupt and prosecute individuals spreading harm.

Hyper-local intelligence obtained by neighbourhood policing teams allows us to focus our resources more accurately and efficiently and the week also saw some significant enforcement operations off the back of community intelligence.

Here are some of the highlights from each division.

East Sussex

 On Saturday, 28 January, a drugs warrant was carried out in Rhias Glade, Brede, based on intelligence gathered by neighbourhood policing officers.

A search of the property found over half a kilogram of cocaine, a zombie knife, a number of items linked to the supply of drugs and around £5,000 in cash.

A 34-year-old man from Brede was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply a Class A drug (cocaine), possession with intent to supply a Class B drug (cannabis) and possession of an offensive weapon in a private place.

He has been released on bail while enquiries continue.

Saturday’s arrest was in addition to a wide range of engagement activity and community policing across the division.

Neighbourhood police officers visited schools, community meetings, religious groups and more to provide education, updates on local activity and find out about issues affecting residents.

Visible patrols also continued around our neighbourhoods, including targeted reassurance and intelligence gathering following a firearms incident in Hastings on Tuesday, 24 January.

Four warrants connected to the operation involving neighbourhood policing officers resulted in two arrests and the seizure of a firearm and drugs.

West Sussex

Police were called to a report of two dogs left in a vehicle without food or water in Ferring Street, Worthing, on Friday, 27 January.

Officers forced entry to the vehicle and the dogs were safely placed in a police van with water.

A member of the public led officers to the dogs’ owner, who was wanted for being concerned in the supply of Class A and B drugs.

The suspect – a 24-year-old man from Worthing – was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A and B drugs and animal neglect.

A search of the property found Class A and B drugs and the man was further arrested for possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.

A 23-year-old woman from Worthing was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class B drugs.

The dogs have been taken into the care of kennels in Hastings.

Targeted patrol activity around Worthing town centre on Saturday, 28 January, significantly disrupted crime and anti-social behaviour linked to youths and the street community.

The increased presence allowed officers to assist with a high risk domestic incident in the town and a high risk missing person heading towards the beach.

Dozens of engagement events, visits and patrols were carried out across the division throughout the week, engaging with hundreds of people and offering support and advice.

Brighton and Hove

 Brighton and Hove officers demonstrated the crucial link between members of the public and our enforcement arm as they took down a cannabis farm in Gableson Avenue.

Acting on intelligence from the public, officers from the Tactical Enforcement Unit supported NPT officers in a warrant on Tuesday, 24 January.

After gaining entrance to the property, officers found five rooms of the house were being used to grow cannabis, spread across three floors.

Thirty-year-old Granit Cahani, of no fixed address, was arrested at the scene and subsequently charged with production of a Class B drug (cannabis). He has been remanded in custody pending a trial at Lewes Crown Court on 23 February.

Similar to their colleagues across the county, Brighton and Hove’s neighbourhood policing team were out all week – as they are all-year-round – at community events, schools, residents’ meetings and patrolling streets all over the city.

Chief Superintendent Justin Burtenshaw said: “Sussex is a county blessed with a rich and diverse range of communities, and understanding the specific issues that affect each and every one of them is key to being an effective police service.

“Neighbourhood policing teams work in the heart of our communities. They help to protect the most vulnerable in our society and, with our partners, put the solutions in place that really make a tangible difference to people’s lives.

“This week of action has highlighted the amazing work of Sussex’s neighbourhood policing teams, but I am proud of the outstanding work they carry out 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year for the people of Sussex.

“The public are a central part of that process, so please help us to help you by reporting any concerns online or via 101. Always dial 999 in an emergency. Your local PCSO is also there as a contact for any local issues.”

Speaking about the week, Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne said: “When I first started my year-round engagement programme in 2018, it was clear that residents wanted more contact with the police in their local areas. That’s why it is a priority of mine to improve engagement by the Force and support them in creating Neighbourhood Policing Patrol Plans.”

During the week of action, PCC Bourne met with PCSO Eva to talk about why she took on the role, what a day looks like for her and how she helps keep the public safe. You can watch the video on the PCC website.