Police, in collaboration with multiple agencies, launched a full day of action on Monday (23 September) to address serious violence and anti-social behaviour in Barnham and Chichester. Operation Parkside was conducted alongside Arun District Council, Chichester District Council, West Sussex County Council, NHS, Govia Thameslink Railway, British Transport Police, and other partners.
The initiative focused on engagement at train stations, where officers and partners interacted with the local community, businesses, and young people to offer reassurance and gather feedback.
The operation follows a reported rise in crime across the rail network during the summer, as well as concerns about youth crime and anti-social behaviour in Barnham and Yapton, which led to the launch of Operation Precinct earlier in the year.
Speaking about the initiative, Chief Inspector Will Keating-Jones, District Commander for Chichester and Arun, said, “We were able to combine both Operation Parkside and Operation Precinct on Monday to show that Sussex Police take a zero-tolerance approach to crime and disorder in our communities.”
He emphasised the importance of community engagement, adding, “It also enables us to provide reassurance and engagement opportunities for residents, with the aim of identifying criminality and holding offenders to account for their actions.”
Chief Inspector Keating-Jones also praised the efforts of the teams involved, stating, “It was a huge success as we were able to speak to, and engage with, a number of residents, commuters, school children and businesses on the day.”
Looking forward, he noted that, “This work does not just stop at Chichester and Barnham, we will look to host multi-agency days of action across West Sussex to combat serious violence, anti-social behaviour, and all crime types reported near the rail network.”
Safer West Sussex Partnership Chair Matt Cook, Deputy Chief Fire Officer for West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, expressed his support for the initiative, saying, “I am pleased to see that local agencies are coming together to tackle the unacceptable crime and anti-social behaviour we have seen recently in Barnham and other areas of West Sussex linked to the rail network.”
He continued, “I am aware that the community has felt the impact of this behaviour and it’s important for us to speak to people to properly understand this so we can provide robust enforcement and support where needed.”
The partnership intends to continue these operations, with further visits to stations in West Sussex planned over the coming months.
Residents are encouraged to report any incidents of crime or anti-social behaviour by calling 101 or reporting via Sussex Police’s online service. In emergencies, the public should dial 999.
