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.
Crime Rates Down, Anti-Social Behavior Decreases
Thanks to the team’s dedicated efforts, anti-social behavior crimes have decreased by 17.9%, while reports of grievous bodily harm have dropped by 29.1%. The concerted approach appears to be working, with Sussex communities seeing measurable improvements in safety and security.
“Over a sustained period of time, this data shows that our approach is working,” said Chief Inspector Jim Loader, the lead on serious violence and knife crime for Sussex Police. “These figures show our communities are now even safer places, with fewer knives on the streets and violent and anti-social offenders being dealt with robustly.”
Knife Crime Sees Mixed Results with Proactive Policing
While overall crime trends are positive, there has been a 10.3% increase in knife-related offenses, particularly in two newly identified hotspots in Brighton. In the other 27 hotspot areas, knife offenses have actually fallen by 22%. The rise in reported knife incidents is partly attributed to proactive policing, with officers actively searching individuals and seizing weapons.
“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.
