We'd like to Welcome Chief Inspector Simon Yates as #Hastings & #Rother District Commander. Simon brings with him a wealth of

 experience gained from his years as a sergeant with the Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT), and as Inspector working with the Serious Violence Reduction Team. Simon has a vast knowledge and understanding of neighbourhood policing and community engagement and his collaborative efforts with various partner agencies set a strong foundation for his role. His career is marked by a dedicated commitment to the community, and positively influencing young people, underscoring his passion and vision for everyone.

Wishing every success to Chief Inspector Jay Mendis who will begin his new role at Headquarters with the support team. We’d like to thank him for his inspirational presence, supportive nature, and commendable work ethic, which significantly contributed to the success of all the teams working in Hastings & Rother.  

ShopKind is a retail industry campaign, co-ordinated by ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores), that is responding to the growing problem of abuse and violence toward shop workers. 

Sussex Police are collaborating with community retailers to proactively address theft, anti-social behaviour, and prevent both verbal and physical aggression directed at store employees. 

Our aim -

• To foster a culture of courtesy and respect within shops.

• Acknowledge the essential role of shop workers in our communities.

• Raise awareness about scale and impact of abuse and violence towards shop workers.

For further information, please visit ACS website for more information here 

We have had several reports of Toyota RAV4 vehicle thefts, involving models produced prior to October 2021, being stolen on the Hastings & Rother area.

We are in dialogue with the manufacture, Toyota, regarding the method being used to gain entry to the vehicles. Please see the following link on advice from Toyota.

The following steps can be taken to help prevent the theft or attempted theft of you vehicle - 

If the crime is happening now call 999 - if you are unsure, we’d rather hear about it and decide if a theft is occurring. If it is safe to do so, take photos of suspects or the number plate of their car (do not approach suspects). If the crime has already happened, then you can report it to us online or call 101.

Be Deer Aware 

Please drive with caution.

🦌 When are deer around?

Deer cross the roads all year round, but their presence peaks in April to May when young deer disperse from breeding areas. Take particular care at dawn and dusk.

🦌 Seen one? Look for another.

If a deer crosses in front of you, it is likely that another will follow. If it is safe to do so, slow right down or stop and wait. Deer are unpredictable so drive with caution.

🦌 Be aware

Deer often cross the roads in the same locations. Deer warning signs are put up where deer are known to cross regularly. When you see a warning sign or are travelling through a heavily wooded stretch of road, you should slow down, stay alert and be prepared to stop.

🦌 Use your lights. After dark, use full-beam when there is no opposing traffic. The headlight beam will illuminate the eyes of deer on or near a road and help you to spot them.

When a deer or other animal is seen on the road, dip your headlights as animals startled by the beam may cause them to ‘freeze’ rather than leave the road.

Sussex Police have deployed an annual targeted operation to ensure drivers are safe on the road.

Operation Downsway is an addition to our usual patrols, which was launched in April in East Sussex and will run every weekend through the summer months.

The aim of the operation is:

Working together with The Sussex Safer Road Partnership, the Casualty Reduction Team, the Safety Camera Team, and specialised Community Speed Watch groups, officers will provide a high visibility presence across our road network to make sure law-abiding road users including drivers, motorcyclists and cyclists can do so with confidence and in safety.

We conducted a patrol outside St Mary Star of The Sea Primary School on Magdalen Road to promote safety and discourage illegal parking on the double yellow & zigzag lines. 

During our visit, we spoke with the lollipop man to discuss the recurring issues with hazardous parking observed around the school premises. Our aim was not only to observe but also to educate drivers about the potential risks and legal repercussions of their parking choices.

Clearly displayed signage indicates a strict no parking policy during the hours of 08:00 – 09:30 AM and 2:30 – 4:00 PM from Monday to Friday. Our commitment to public safety is unwavering, and we will persist in taking appropriate measures against those who compromise safety through irresponsible parking.

Whilst on high visibility patrols in the Malvern Way area, we located a motorbike tucked away behind a block of flats. The bike had no registration plate, but checks showed the vehicle had been stolen just days earlier. 

The bike was recovered to be examined for forensics. 

How to make stealing your motorbike as unappealing as possible.

The longer a thief needs to spend breaking through your security, the less likely they are to try.

🔐If possible, keep it out of sight, park it in a garage or secure garden, getting it off the road could help reduce insurance premiums.

⛓️ Locks / Chains

It's a good idea to invest in a good motorbike lock.

A disc lock (alarmed) to secure the front brake disc, or a grip lock to secure the brake and throttle controls, use a chain lock through the back wheel as the front wheel can be removed.

If possible secure your bike with the lock taut to an immovable object such as a ground anchor or street furniture, alternatively, thread the chain (if possible, buy 22mm) through your motorbike frame and back wheel.

🚨 Alarms

A useful deterrent. Ensure that any alarm you choose is an approved device.

🏍️ Motorbike covers

When possible, use a motorbike cover, it will also protect your bike from the elements.

⚠️ Disable your motorbike

Another easy option to deter thieves is removing the spark plug or HT cap.

The benefits are that it’s quick and relatively straightforward, although this will not prevent thieves lifting your motorcycle into a van, but it is an added tier of security worth considering.

🖲️ Trackers

If the thieves do manage to steal your bike, a tracker fitted to the vehicle could help locate the motorbike and possibly the offenders.

If you see your bike being stolen, never put yourself at risk, call police on 999 immediately.

Last weekend the Hastings Neighbourhood Policing Team provided a high visibility policing presence on the A259 Bexhill Road to reduce motorists travelling in excess of the speed limit and to tackle the perils of drink / drug driving. 

Pleased to report, that no one was arrested but words of advice were given to several drivers that were stopped. 

Sussex Police is a staunch advocate of the 'designated driver' concept, making sure everyone gets home safe, and averting potential Road Traffic Collisions. 

We will continue in our unwavering commitment to deal with the Fatal5 and continue in our relentless efforts to reduce the number of fatalities and severe injuries that occur on Sussex roads.

If you have information pertaining to someone who may be drink / drug driving, you can contact us online or call 101. Alternatively, you can report anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

Last week, we had a great time at Silverdale Pre School nursery! 

We spent some quality time with the little ones, talking about our community role and sharing tips on keeping themselves safe. 

They also had great fun trying on our cool police hats and jackets, followed by a tour of our police car. We explained about all our gadgets that we have and what we use them for, but as always, the real excitement was on hearing the wail of the sirens and seeing the blue and red of the lights close up.

In response to receiving calls and speaking with local people of concerns around anti-social behaviour in the Old Town , we have increased our daily presence with high visibility patrols in the hot spots highlighted to us.

Your alerts are vital in helping us address issues quickly, enabling us to direct resources to areas that are most affected, so please, continue to inform us of issues or concerns in your community by contacting us online or call on 101.

In an emergency or crime in progress, please call 999

Just last week, we had the opportunity to drop by West St Leonards Primary Academy, where we got to chat with Years 1 & 2. We talked about our role in the community and answered their questions, which was great fun. We even had the pleasure of sharing Story time with the Doves class!

Our visit is a part of our broader initiative to connect with children at the primary school level. We make a point to visit the school each term, participating in a variety of activities designed to educate them about personal safety, the importance of road safety, and how to navigate their digital footprint with care.

We'd like to say thank you to everyone who participated in the May Day Bike Run and Jack in the Green festivities in Hastings, despite the poor weather. 

We conducted high-visibility foot patrols in both the Town Centre and the Old Town, chatting with the local community and the influx of tourists eager to take part in the events.

The patrols also served to discourage motorists from speeding and engaging in anti-social driving. This effort underscores our commitment to reducing the number of serious injuries and fatalities on our roads.

Fortunately, the weather didn't dampen spirits. Bike aficionados still gathered in impressive numbers, showcasing an array of stunning motorcycles for the crowd to admire. 

Possible ban, Points on your licence, Fine, increased insurance premiums, all scenarios’ for 90MPH in a 60MPH zone.

We are committed to ensuring Sussex Roads remain safe for all road users and we will continue take robust action against those who drive / ride irresponsibly or dangerously. 

Fatal5 

Speeding

Drink / Drug Driving

No seatbelt

Fatigue

Distraction as in using a mobile phone

On Thursday evening, we spoke with motorists at Wellington Place in Hastings, after reports of vehicles using the area during restricted hours.  

While speaking with one driver, we discovered they had no insurance. Driver was issued with a Traffic Offence Report. 

We had the pleasure of visiting the 17th Hastings Cub Scouts last week over two sessions, to talk to them about keeping themselves

 safe online and what to do in an emergency. Their enthusiasm was infectious, and we had some excellent questions.

Of course, no visit would be complete without the cubs trying on our hats and jackets, followed by an inspection of our police car.

We would like to apologise to the neighbours for the sirens and lights! but if it’s any consolation, the Cubs loved it. 

Thank you for inviting us, we had a great time, and look forward to visiting again soon.

Community Speed Watch (CSW) volunteers were out last week conducting speed checks, after local residents reported speeding vehicles.

First stop Crowhurst Road, with 101 recorded vehicles speeding, with a top speed of 48MPH in a 30.

A few days later, CSW went to Harley Shute Road with 40 offenders recorded, again the top speed being 48MPH in a 30.

Community Speed Watch (CSW) is a nationwide initiative that engages the proactive involvement of local community members, who, in collaboration with Police, utilise speed detection devices to monitor speeding vehicles. When vehicles are recorded exceeding the speed limits, they are reported to the Police with the objective of providing education to drivers on the importance of adhering to speed limits.

This initiative plays a critical role in mitigating anti-social driving and excessive speed, thereby contributing to the prevention of severe injuries or fatalities on our roads.

If you are interested in establishing a CSW group within your community, or for those wishing to become a part of an existing group, please visit CSWs website here

If you saw or heard anything, or have any information about any incident in this message please contact us online, or call 101, quoting the reference number provided.

Alternatively you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111, or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org

You can also visit our website at www.sussex.police.uk where you can find our easy to use online forms to report all non-emergencies to us.

On our website you can also find police advice to keep you safe and help you understand the law, and also browse our crime prevention pages for first-hand knowledge, industry best practices and practical crime prevention advice from officers and specialist teams all across the police.

Have you ever had a policing question that doesn't actually require direct police involvement to answer?

Ask the Police is a great online source of information for the most frequently asked policing questions, visit www.askthe.police.uk/ for more information.

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What's happening in your area?
Get the latest crime statistics and advice, help us with appeals for information and find out what we’re doing to tackle crime in your area online here.