Friday 13th December 2024

Sussex Alerts - Eastbourne Police

Day of action in Eastbourne hotspot area to target prolific offenders

Hotspot officers joined Neighbourhood officers on Monday 9, December to carry out a day of targeted action in hotspot areas of the town centre. 

Throughout the day, a number of individuals were arrested, or summonsed as part of our ongoing crackdown on repeat offenders causing harm in our communities in the run up to Christmas. 

One female was observed entering a local store, where she selected £150 worth of beauty products and left without making payment – she was subsequently stopped and was found in possession of several stolen items, and will be summonsed for the offence of shoplifting.

A male who had previously been reported shoplifting in the town centre on December 8, was located and arrested. The known shoplifter, was charged and remanded to be sentenced on Thursday, 12 December. 

Another male known to police was also identified by local teams for having committed shoplifting offences in the town, he too has been summonsed. 

Further highlights from the day of action include section 23 searches on a known male on suspicion of being involved in drug supply, after he was witnessed acting suspiciously by officers, as well as a number of repeat ASB nominals being moved away from the town centre area following rowdy behaviour. 

Chief Inspector Jim Loader said: “Hotspot policing has proven to be an extremely effective method of protecting our communities particularly ahead of the festive season, using data and intelligence to target our resources where they can have the greatest impact. 

“The results of this day of action are reflective of the success we and our partners can achieve across Sussex by focusing on the highest harm areas and most prolific offenders. 

“Teamwork is central to that approach, working with our partners in the community to share intelligence, identify issues and put the specific measures in place to tackle them.”

Eastbourne officers and staff celebrated at annual East Sussex Awards.

The hard work, dedication and bravery of police officers and staff in East Sussex has been celebrated at an awards event.

The ceremony was held at the Welcome Building in Eastbourne in front of family, friends and dignitaries including East Sussex High Sheriff Lucinda Fraser.

Awards were presented for a variety of reasons, including complex and in-depth investigations, tackling organised crime, impactful community engagement and life-saving actions.

Each award celebrated individuals and teams who have consistently gone above and beyond in their duties, showcasing their commitment to assisting those in need and ensuring the safety and well-being of the community they serve.

Some of the award winners include:

Eastbourne officer PC James Betteridge and RC Kirsty Burgess, were praised for their brave actions after discovering a burning bungalow in Eastbourne, with the fire spreading to a neighbouring property.

Finding an elderly man close to the fire, they safely escorted him away. Unsure if his wife remained inside, they selflessly entered the smoke-filled building, conducting a thorough search to ensure everyone’s safety. The Fire Commander praised their actions, stating that the occupants were fortunate they responded so quickly. 

PC Ben Hall, based in Eastbourne, and PC Daniel Ribeiro Pires, based at Hastings Police Station, were awarded for their life saving actions. They were at an address when they encountered a lady suffering from a seizure and cardiac arrest. Daniel immediately began CPR while Ben contacted emergency services, providing concise updates throughout. Daniel calmly and expertly continued CPR until paramedics arrived. Their composed demeanour and effective communication with each other and the control room to arrange support from the ambulance service was commended. They remained on scene until paramedics arrived, playing a crucial role in ensuring the woman received the necessary medical attention, ultimately saving her life.

PCSO Daniel Russell, based in Eastbourne, was praised for his swift action in identifying a concerning incident on his beat area. Daniel’s quick response, identifying a man who lured a lone woman to an isolated area followed by a sexual assault against another teenager, was crucial in apprehending the suspect within hours. Daniel’s thorough initial investigation led to the identification and arrest of the perpetrator, who was subsequently charged and remanded with serious offences.

Investigator Adisa Kadiric, based in Eastbourne, was awarded for a tenacious investigation into a fraud targeting a vulnerable elderly man. The suspect, posing as a caregiver, cynically exploited the victim’s trust, defrauding him of over £150,000. Despite significant investigative challenges, Adisa relentlessly pursued the case, securing charges and ultimately a guilty plea in March 2024, resulting in a 4-year 8-month prison sentence. Adisa demonstrated exceptional investigative skills and a profound dedication to protecting a vulnerable member of the community.

Chief Superintendent Rosie Ross, Divisional Commander for East Sussex, said: "Every day we see incredible hard work and dedication put into policing East Sussex, and I am immensely proud of all of the officers and staff, they truly are a credit to Sussex Police and the communities they serve.”

Operation Confront first two week results.

Since December 1, over 78 hours have been spent on dedicated patrols and engagements in the town centre.

Operation Confront; aimed at tackling and dispersing ASB in the town centre predominantly, has seen a number of positive results already in the last two weeks, including over 10 arrests and just shy of 10 stop searches resulting in arrests for shoplifting, robbery, assault and a recall to prison.

Under this police operation, a further 3 persons have also been summonsed to court for shoplifting as a result of these proactive patrols and targeted activities across the town.

Not only are these patrols an opportunity for police to engage with communities, but to also offer reassurance to both local businesses, and residents that we are committed to reducing crime and disorder, as well as being in a position to respond to any concerns and address any inappropriate behaviours at the time.

This operation, which sees Neighbourhood Policing Teams working with partners on a number of joint patrols in the run up to Christmas; including Eastbourne Borough Council is aimed at addressing community concerns raised around both crime and anti-social behaviour, including street drinking and begging in the town centre, as well as catching those responsible for business crime in the area.

Contact us

For non-emergency incidents or crime prevention advice, click  www.sussex.police.uk,  (If you report a crime online, we will assess it in the same way as a 101 call).  

Call 101 when you do not require an urgent response. In an emergency when life is threatened or there is immediate danger always call 999. 

Speak to us face-to-face at a police station or contact the local policing team at www.sussex.police.uk/area/your-area.  

If you are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired, you can contact us using TypeTalk on 18000 or by sending a text to 65999.