Tactical Enforcement Unit

Targeting serious and high impact crime

The Tactical Enforcement Unit (TEU) is a proactive police unit, working to tackle the critical issues which directly impact our communities – from burglars to organised crime groups.

Disrupt, Enforce, Protect

The Tactical Enforcement Unit carries out high profile disruption and enforcement across Sussex, supporting colleagues to target serious, organised and high impact crime.

The unit is dedicated to capturing some of Sussex’s most wanted and prolific offenders. The team is made up of officers with specialist skills in proactive policing, and will carry out targeted disruption, enforcement and patrol activities wherever it is most needed.

The unit enhances the work of local policing teams, using intelligence provided by communities to disrupt the criminal activities of those causing the most harm.

The team:

• Safeguards vulnerable people and those at risk of exploitation.
• Carries out stop and searches.
• Locates and they arrest wanted people.
• Seizes illegal drugs, weapons and cash.
• Gathers intelligence.

Inspector Dan Hiles, who is leading the TEU, said: "Since the team has been in action we have already made some significant arrests including tracking down people who have been evading arrest or failing to appear at court for months. We will continue our work to disrupt criminal activity, enforce the law and protect communities in Sussex."

The additional capability is funded through the national Uplift programme from the government, which will see additional police in the coming years.

This increased funding means the public will see and feel the impact of the Tactical Enforcement Unit across the county.

Chief Constable Jo Shiner said: "We want Sussex to be a hostile environment for criminals and especially those involved in serious violence and targeting vulnerable people across our county, whether through county lines drugs gangs or other organised crime.

"The Tactical Enforcement Unit will be a visible, proactive deterrent to those at the centre of serious offending, supporting local policing teams in dealing with specific spikes in crimes that impact on the community and it is already making a difference with a successful operation on its first day.

"They will work where the need is greatest and provide public reassurance by being present and proactively disrupting and taking off the streets some of our most prolific criminals."

How you can help support the Tactical Enforcement Unit

Information from you is vital in helping us make your neighbourhood a safer place to live. If you see anything suspicious, we want to know about it.

Tell us by reporting online, or by calling 101. In an emergency, always call 999. If you're deaf or hard of hearing, use our textphone service on 18001 101.

If you’d rather report anonymously, then call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.