In a substantial victory for law enforcement, crime has decreased across Sussex’s crime-prone areas after a six-month campaign of targeted action. Since April 2024, Sussex Police’s Hotspot Policing Team has driven down crime rates in 29 high-risk zones, resulting in a 14% reduction in offenses compared to the same period last year.
The new Hotspot Policing Team, launched in April, was designed to address issues in areas of high criminal activity, with a strong focus on anti-social behavior and serious violence. Since its establishment, the unit has logged over 10,000 hours of additional patrols and tens of thousands of public engagements, all contributing to its impact. As part of a comprehensive strategy, officers are not only patrolling and enforcing but also collaborating with local partners to tackle underlying factors contributing to crime.
“Offenses involving a knife also include possession of bladed articles, so increases in reports can correlate with more proactive searches by officers, finding knives and taking them off the street,” Loader explained.
More than 150 searches have been conducted in hotspot areas, leading to the seizure of 23 knives, 27 stolen items, and 37 separate quantities of drugs. These searches have also resulted in 161 arrests directly linked to the extra patrols, adding to the team’s success.
Community Pods Boost Engagement in High-Risk Areas
In November, Sussex Police introduced “community pods” to provide a visible police presence in seven hotspot locations: Hastings, Eastbourne, Brighton, Crawley, Horsham, Worthing, and Chichester. These pods serve as both a point of contact for the public and a deterrent to criminal activity.
“The recent delivery of new community pods are another welcome boost, providing a greater presence at the heart of our towns and cities,” Loader added. “I would encourage the public to come up and say ‘hello’– we are there to help.”
The team’s efforts to maintain security and engage the public are central to the approach, with ongoing encouragement for residents to report concerns directly to officers or through Sussex Police’s official channels. This partnership between police and community members is key to continued success.
Loader concluded by emphasising the importance of community input in maintaining these gains, urging residents to continue speaking up to keep Sussex safe.
