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News & Updates for Hastings 30th November - 14th December
It's never okay to drive while under the influence of drink or drugs. #OpLimit We have seen the devastation that driving under the influence can cause, and we will not waver in our commitment to tackling this issue at every turn. During our evening patrols in Hastings and Bexhill, we stopped and spoke with several drivers to confront this critical issue and highlight the devastating impact it can have on so many lives. We are pleased to report that only one Traffic Offence Report (TOR) was issued. You may not see us, but we’re out there 24/7 365 If you know someone is driving, or is about to drive, while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, call us immediately on 999.
 Having your vehicle breakdown in the dark on the A28 Westfield is bad enough, and the situation can become even more problematic when police pull up behind you to assist, only to discover an open bottle of wine on the passenger seat. The driver had apparently been driving on a flat tyre for some distance, as evidenced by its condition. A roadside breath test was given, which registered a reading of 108 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, the limit being 35. Subsequently, she was taken into custody, where further tests yielded results of 111 and 109 micrograms. The driver was held overnight and charged the following morning. She is scheduled to appear in court on December 24th! Car was seized.
A male, of No Fixed Address, has been sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in custody at Lewes Crown Court on December 10, 2024, following multiple breaches of a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) that prohibited him from entering specified retail stores. The male, who has a history of shoplifting offenses, was found to have repeatedly violated the terms of his CBO. Additional charges included using threatening behaviour and abusive language toward retail staff at a store in Ravenside Retail Park, Bexhill.
East Sussex County Council are signposting eligible households to apply for the Warm Home Check or Pension Credits.  📆 If you are State Pension age you could qualify for Pension Credit, which also unlocks the Winter Fuel Payment to help with heating bills. To receive the Winter Fuel Payment, make sure you register for Pension Credit by December 21st. Check if you’re eligible: 🏠 The Warm Home Check service provides free tips to stay warm and save money. It can also offer emergency temporary heating, small home energy efficiency improvements and access to any available government grants! Find out more about the help and support available from the Warm Home Check service here 💙 Please remember to check on older neighbours or relatives to ensure they are safe, warm and well this winter.
In addition to patrols throughout Hastings and Rother, we have officers working in the towns centres to address anti-social behaviour and shoplifting but more importantly keeping shoppers and businesses safe with our latest Christmas crime prevention advice.
Christmas is a time for giving, but sadly for taking too...here are a few simple steps you can take to protect you, your home, presents and loved ones this festive season.
🎅When you are out shopping, please remember: -Only carry the cash you need -Keep valuables in inside coat pockets or internal zips in bags to prevent pickpockets -If keeping presents in the car ensure they are well out of sight and the car/boot is locked
🎅When you’re out in the evening: -Never leave your valuables unattended in public areas -If walking home after a night out, stay with friends -Drink responsibly, don’t drink and drive, arrange for a taxi or a designated driver for the evening
🎅When you are at home: -It may seem obvious, but lock all doors and windows before leaving the house -Don’t leave presents under your Christmas tree if they are visible from windows or doors -Keep car keys away from letter boxes and in a Faraday case
🎅After Christmas: - Avoid becoming an easy target for post-holiday burglars/robbers by not leaving boxes for new electronics and other items outside your wheelie bin; break down boxes, and remove labels before disposing of the boxes -Register your newly gifted items with your home insurance provider and with property registering websites, assisting in recovering your property and catching the thieves
 Beware! Counterfeit £20 notes have been detected in circulation within Battle and Rye. We ask both the public and businesses to remain vigilant. We've identified several anomalies in these counterfeit notes (marked in red on the reference image). If you encounter any suspicious notes, please contact let us know. This will help us track their distribution. Additionally, we request that any discovered counterfeit notes be handed in to your nearest police station. Key Features to Verify: Front of the Note: Back of the Note:
Seeing a vehicle being driven erratically on Shepherd's Street, St Leonards, nearly colliding with several parked vehicles, officers initiated a traffic stop. The driver, who showed signs of intoxication including staggering and slurred speech, refused to comply with a roadside breath test. Subsequently, he was arrested and transported to the police station, where he again refused to provide a breath analysis sample. The driver will now appear in court for Refusing to provide. Failing to provide is considered a serious offense that carries substantial penalties. The consequences typically align with drink-driving offenses and may include:
Drink-driving remains one of the primary causes of fatal and serious injuries on our roads. We urge the public to immediately contact emergency services on 999 if they witness or suspect someone of driving under the influence of alcohol.
Two drivers found themselves walking home after we seized their vehicles for driving without insurance.  If that wasn’t bad enough, the Audi driver also lacked a valid driving license. Both drivers have been reported to court. Having car insurance while driving is not just a legal requirement—it's a vital step in protecting the public from potentially devastating effects and financial ruin in case of an incident. Driving without insurance could have severe consequences, including: Remember to check that your insurance is valid.
As part of our ongoing commitment to road safety in Hastings & Rother, we joined Community Speed Watch (CSW) to conduct speed checks on Battle Road, St Leonards, during school leaving time on Monday. Drivers found driving well in excess of 30 MPH speed limit were stopped for immediate intervention, spoken to and dealt with at the roadside. Additionally, we documented the registration details of other speeding vehicles, and these drivers will receive a police letter in the post. Excessive speed remains a critical factor in serious and fatal road incidents. We maintain our support of CSW volunteers in addressing this crucial public safety concern. Their continued efforts play an essential role in making our roads safer for everyone. For those interested in addressing traffic safety concerns in their community and supporting Community Speed Watch's vital initiatives, please visit their official website
 During our OpDickens safety patrols in Hastings Town Centre, we visited the Community Hub, where we came across the Hastings Library of Things' community exchange event. This valuable initiative provided an excellent opportunity to chat with local people while also supporting a great event. The program operates on a simple principle: you can donate items or take items, all for free! The Hastings Library of Things also offers an affordable membership program, giving residents access to a diverse inventory of rentable items. Their collection includes various tools, children's costumes, camping equipment, mobility aids, and numerous other practical resources. Well worth visiting their website here hastingslot.myturn.com/library/?defaultPage=true
We had great pleasure visiting West St Leonards Primary Academy, spending time listening to Year 4 students read on a one-to-one basis. We were also honoured to be invited to attend their celebration assembly, where individual children were recognised for their efforts in achieving their goals through awards such as the Politeness Cup and Golden Awards. Several children earned their pen licenses, signifying that their handwriting had reached a high standard, and they could now swap their pencils for pens. It was lovely to see how proud the children were of their achievements. We look forward to our next visit in the New Year.
 On Tuesday 3rd December, we gathered for a moment of silence around the Wedding Cake tree, planted in memory of our colleague and friend, Richard Cowan, who passed away on January 31, 2024.
Richard began working at Hastings Police Station in February 1998, where he worked for nearly 26 years. He was friendly, kind and always happy to stop and chat. He will be so sadly missed by all who knew him.
 Last week I joined Chief Inspector Yates at the pod in Hastings Town Centre, where we had the opportunity to speak to passing shoppers, offering advice on burglary prevention. Being a victim of burglary can be devastating, having a huge impact on a person's wellbeing and feeling of safety. One burglary can have a ripple effect on the whole community. As much as we would like to be everywhere, this is not possible, so we need your help in keeping you and your property safe. Burglars are often opportunistic thieves, taking advantage of doors and windows that are left open, unlocked, or are easy to force. It really doesn't take much to deter these thieves – just smart thinking. Tips on how to keep you and your property safe: • Lock your doors when you're at home as well as when you go out If you find someone trying to enter your home, call 999 immediately. For more tips or advice, please visit our website here: http://spkl.io/6189404xV Taking some simple steps can go a long way to safeguarding ourselves and our homes.
Throughout December Hastings Officers will be increasing patrols in the Town Centre on Friday and Saturday nights in order to provide reassurance to those enjoying a night out.
Operation WAVE (Women & Vulnerability Engagement) focuses on reducing and preventing crimes against anyone who feels unsafe while out in public. Patrol areas are selected based on received information, including intelligence reports, previous incidents, and data from Street Safe (which can be accessed on our website here as well as areas where police have previously responded to incidents. Officers can be easily identified by the purple WAVE-branded police vehicle and actively engage with local licensed venues to promote Operation WAVE's work. We encourage you to report any areas you consider unsafe, including those with inadequate lighting or CCTV coverage. Please use the Street Safe tool on our website to submit reports, which will enable our WAVE officers to patrol and focus their attention on these areas of concern.
 The magic of Christmas came alive at Whitecliff Care Home in St Leonards when 51 bright-eyed children from St Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School brought their nativity play to the residents. The children performed with great enthusiasm, and it was clear they brought a lot of joy to those attending. The Christmas spirit is well and truly upon us, and it's good to see that the simplest acts of kindness can create meaningful memories. Well, done to all the children who took part.
PCSO Holter visited Old St. Helen's Church Hastings today, along with the chairman of the local community group. Sadly, the condition of the stonework has been damaged by anti-social behaviour. As a Scheduled Ancient Monument and Grade II listed building, it's afforded a high level of protection. To protect this historic site, we need everyone to remain vigilant. We continue to work with partners to safeguard the site. If you see anything suspicious or out of place, please contact us immediately by: In an emergency or if you witness a crime in progress, please call 999. For more information about Old St. Helen's Church, please visit:
On Friday, December 6th, we visited Crowhurst Road in St. Leonards to address vehicles exceeding the 30mph speed limit. Our monitoring revealed this location to be particularly problematic, with one vehicle per minute traveling faster than 36mph. Our aim - to educate drivers about the dangers and consequences of speeding, which sometimes leads to necessary enforcement actions. During one stop, we discovered the driver did not have a valid license. As a result, we seized the vehicle and reported the driver to court.
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