Crime falls in hotspot areas after police action

Crime has fallen in hotspot areas after six months of targeted action, Sussex Police have said.

The force identified 29 crime hotspot areas, which included Hastings, Eastbourne, Brighton, Crawley, Horsham, Worthing and Chichester.

Crime in these areas fell by more than 14% in the six months since April this year, when the new Hotspot Policing Team was launched, compared to the same time last year.

A total of 161 people have been arrested as a direct result, police said.

The new unit is dedicated to tackling anti-social behaviour and serious violence in 29 areas with relatively high concentrations of crime.

More than 10,000 hours of extra patrols and tens of thousands of public engagements were undertaken by officers.

In the six-month period, anti-social behaviour crime reduced by 17.9% and reports of grievous bodily harm fell by 29.1%, police said.

Knife-related offences have increased by 10.3%, driven by increases in two new hotspots in the Brighton area. In the other 27 hotspot areas, knife offences have fallen by 22%.

Meanwhile, more than 150 searches were completed in the hotspot areas, resulting in 23 knives being seized, 27 stolen items and 37 separate quantities of drugs.

Ch Insp Jim Loader said the figures showed that communities were now “even safer places”.

“Work in our hotspot areas will continue in earnest,” he said.

Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.